BlaydonJazz - Blaydon House Sports & Social Club, Garden Street, Blaydon on Tyne, NE21 4AG.
It is just off Whitmore Rd. Blaydon.
Directions - at the big roundabout on the A695 at Blaydon, take the turning marked for Blaydon Centre. This immediately brings you onto a mini roundabout in front of the church with clocktower. Turn right, up the steep bank (Blaydon Bank) marked for Winlaton. Whitmore Road is first right (only about 30 yards up the hill). The venue is down a little slip road (Garden Street) about 50 yards along Whitmore Rd. on the right.

BlaydonJazz Policy - we usually feature jazz artists who work in the mainstream of the music.
From from Goodman to Getz you might say, although neither of them has headlined at the club.
As it happens, Artie Shaw rang us for a gig just last week but we had to apologise and say we didn't have any vacant dates just now.
Usually we have a resident rhythm section (quartet/trio) often with a guest soloist - occasionally we feature another local band. Unfortunately we don't have the funds to feature complete bands from further afield.

We sometimes feature some of the great young players emerging on the NE jazz scene. They are the future of local jazz - please give them every support and encouragement.

The repertoire is based mostly on Great American Songbook 'standards' - the great songs of Kern, Gershwin, Rogers & Hart, Arlen, Ellington, Berlin, Van Heusen, etc.

There are other great local clubs/venues promoting modern jazz/free jazz/contemporary improvised music and also traditional jazz (see below for more info.) and we see our niche as more or less in the middle ground, but with an open mind. All Blaydon concerts are on a Thursday evening, usually an 8.30 start and 'pay at the door'.
We have one concert a month but try to slot in one or two additional concerts during the summer period. We take a break Jan to March.
We don't do concessionary admission prices - we try to keep our flat entrance charge as low as possible but enough to cover costs (a continual struggle!) and feel this is fairest to everyone.


Thurs 11th Sept - Garry Linsley (alto sax) with The Jeremy McMurray/Roly Veitch Quartet. Adm. £5.00.
Now resident in Cumbria, Garry is a fine, melodic altoist who always plays with a beautiful tone in the Hodges, Carter, Desmond tradition. A lover of American Songbook standards we feature Garry, plus a few vocals from Roly.

Thurs October 9th - Vasilis Xenopoulos(tnr sax) with The Paul Edis Trio. Adm. £6.00.
London based, Greek saxophonist Vasilis plays rather in the Stan Getz style. A ravishing tone and great, lyrical solo ideas. Backed by Paul(pno), Mick Shoulder(bass) and Adam Sinclair(drms) this is a concert not to miss.

Thurs Oct 23rd - The Swing City Quintet. Adm. £5.00.
The Swing City Trio are Steve Andrews (sax/clnt), Roy Cansdale (bass) and Roly Veitch (acoustic gtr/vcls) - they play late 30s/40s New York style, acoustic swing jazz. For this concert Jeremy McMurray(pno) and Billy Shield(drms) are added for an evening of American Songbook classics.

Thurs November 13th - Graham Wilson(tenor sax/flute), Paul Edis(alto sax/flute), Paul Gamblin(gtr) guest with The Jeremy McMurray Trio. Adm. £5.00.
Scot Graham now lives on Tyneside - he is one of the best sax players around locally. He joins Paul Edis (this time on flute/alto) and Paul Gamblin (great bebop style guitarist) together with the resident rhythm section. Watch out for some great flute duets.

Thurs December 11th (XMas Party incl. buffet) - Frank Brooker(sax/clnt), Ruth Lambert(vcls) with The Jeremy McMurray/Roly Veitch Quartet. Adm. £6.00. It's an 8.15 start for this concert, to allow time for the buffet.
Frank Brooker has been a stalwart of the UK jazz scene for many years. His love of the music and willingness to work with young players as well as traditional bands make him an eclectic, much loved ambassador for jazz. Ruth is, for good reason, one of the most popular artists on the NE jazz scene. Please join us for an evening of nice standards and maybe one or two Christmas songs too. If you wish, bring some item of food to contribute to the buffet food mountain.



Jazz at The Cluny - for the best of modern jazz/contemporary improvised music check out what's on at Schmazz at the Cluny in Byker. Visit www.schmazz.co.uk.

Jazz North East - for news and what's on visit www.jazznortheast.co.uk

Jazz Action - for news, band details, various initiatives - visit www.jazzaction.co.uk
There is quite a buzz on the local jazz scene just now with a lot going on. Stimulated, I think, by a whole raft of really great and enthusiastic young players coming into the music. Check out this site for more information and, for one example, check out Paul Edis's gig at Side Cafe, detailed below.

North East Jazz Collective - this is a new Monday evening contemporary jazz session organised by a great young pianist Paul Edis. At Side Cafe, The Side, bottom of Dean Street, Newcastle. Usually a set by a local band then a jam session.

Jazz at The Treehouse, Alnwick. A unique restaurant venue at The Alnwick Garden - it's the biggest treehouse in the world! Jazz (usually from local duos) every Thursday evening - between 7 and 10pm.

Gateshead Fell Jazz Club - this is one of the best traditional jazz clubs in the UK. It is based at Gateshead Fell Cricket Club, Eastwood Gdns, Low Fell, Gateshead. Sessions every Friday (8.30 start).

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