BLAYDONJAZZ - all sessions start 8.30pm through to 11pm - most concerts are in the club concert room which we set up 'jazz club' style but also we have an occasional concert in the more intimate atmosphere of the cosy club lounge - chamber jazz by duo or trio. These lounge sessions are indicated * below.

AUTUMN 2009 CONCERTS - 25th ANNIVERSARY
More detail given after the headers - see underneath.

Thurs Sept 10th - £5.00
Billy Harper Quartet with guests Frank Brooker (sax/clnt) & Anne DeVere (vcls)

Thurs 17th Sept - £6.00
Roy Williams (tbn) & John Hallam (sax/clnt) with The BlaydonJazz Quartet
This concert is dedicated to the memory of Randolph(Randy) Heads.
Randy was a devout jazz fan and a wonderful supporter of NE jazz, the musicians, etc. He would look after visiting soloists, show them around the area and generally support all local jazz activity. He was a JNE director and adopted Blaydon Jazz Club which he supported in every way possible. Randy died suddenly and totally unexpectedly, in his sleep, on 20th Sept 1999.
He was an absolute gentleman, in every way, and is greatly missed.

Thurs Oct 8th - £5.00
Dave Cliff/Geoff Simkins Quartet (Dave gtr, Geoff alto sax)

*Thurs Oct 15th - £3.00
Zoe Gilby/Andy Champion Duo – this session is in the cosy lounge

Thurs Oct 29th - £5.00
Jon Taylor (sax/flute) & James Birkett (gtr) with The BlaydonJazz Trio

Thurs Nov 12th - £5.00
Vasilis Xenopoulos (sax) with The Paul Edis Trio

Thurs Dec 10th - £5.00 (NOTE NEW DATE)
Bob Caswell (vcls) with The BlaydonJazz Trio

Thurs Dec 17th - XMas Party incl. buffet - £6.00
John Barnes (clnt/sax) & Roy Williams (tbn) with The BlaydonJazz Quartet.

Billy Harper, who played at the club for 15 great years, is back from France for a few days along with his wife, stylish jazz singer Anne. They are joined by Frank Brooker a veteran of the UK jazz scene and a great ambassador for jazz. He is an eclectic player who at home playing Bigard style clarinet thru to Rollins inspired tenor sax.
Roy Williams and John Hallam are simply among the very best UK mainstream jazz musicians. They are in great demand at fests all over the UK and abroad. Many would say Williams is one of the greatest jazz trombonists of all time. A world class artist.
Dave Cliff is one of the finest mainstream jazz guitarists anywhere, hugely respected by those around the world who love his great playing. For this visit he is joined by Geoff Simkins a great UK alto player of the Paul Desmond/Art Pepper/Lee Konitz school, with gorgeous tone and a wonderful, lyrical improvisational style. Supported by Barbados born Dave Carnegie (drms) and with Neil Harland on bass.
Zoe has established herself as a high class jazz singer now appearing at fests around the UK – Andy of course is a phenomenal bass player – he plays with incredible verve and imagination. They take a leaf out of Sheila Jordan’s book – voice + bass!!
Jon Taylor is well known both on the UK jazz and R&B scene – a bluesy jazz player on both sax and flute (and maybe even some wailing harmonica). He is joined by master jazz guitarist - James Birkett.
Vasilis is a native of Greece now resident in London. Think – Wardell Gray, Dexter Gordon, Stan Getz, Hank Mobley, Sonny Rollins. That classic 40s/50s warm-toned tenor sax style – accompanied by the great young local pianist Paul Edis and his trio.
Bob Caswell is a Sinatra styled veteran of the big band era, a great singer of standards. Back by popular request.
John & Roy bring their 'ex Alex Welsh/Humph' double act to Blaydon. Swinging jazz plus plenty of good jokes and anecdotes.

Acknowledgement – sincere thanks to Community Foundation (Grass Roots Grants) and Gateshead MBC for financial help/advice with our 25th anniversary events.

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BlaydonJazz - Our new venue is Blaydon & District Club & Institute (CIU), Garden Street, Blaydon Tel 0191-4142335. It is just a few yards further down the lane from our old venue, with ample parking just at the door and easy access into the building and it's very nice concert room, which we set up 'jazz club' style.
DIRECTIONS - take the A695 to the big roundabout at Blaydon, next to the railway station/shopping precinct. Turn into Blaydon at the sign 'to Blaydon Centre', which brings you immediately onto a mini roundabout in front of St Cuthbert's Church (with clock tower). Here turn right up the steep bank (Blaydon Bank) signed for Winlaton. Only about 30 yards up the bank turn first right into Whitmore Road. About 50 yards along, just past the care home, turn right into the slip road (Garden Street) which leads down to the club at the bottom of the lane.

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 - BlaydonJazz 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.
The photos below are -
left - the original quartet with guests George Evans and Digby Fairweather - left to right Bill Smith, George, Clem, Digby, Roly & Marshall.
right - a club anniversary - guest George Evans and the best ever landlady Pauline. George was a world renowned band leader/arranger who was with Geraldo before forming his own band, many of whom became part of Ted Heath's famous big band.















Please check out the JNE & Jazz Action concerts, or Schmazz at The Cluny, or the weekly Friday sessions at Gateshead Fell Traditional Jazz Club. All presenting excellent jazz, in differing styles. Check out BebopSpokenHere for ALL that is happening - see below.

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Bebop Spoken Here - for specific local gig news on all styles of jazz, reviews, photos, anecdotes etc. Visit to this blog highly recommended. Just click on the link below for all the local news plus lots more. BEBOP SPOKEN HERE

Schmazz 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.

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).

Our house pianist at Blaydon is Jeremy McMurray - a great player. He also has a regular weekly session at a lovely, old fashioned pub, The Causeway, at Stranton, Hartlepool. This is with his own quartet plus often a guest player too. It's on every Wednesday evening at 8.30 - Adm. free.

Ashington Jazz Club - this is another longstanding club (approaching 25 years) featuring mostly traditional to mainstream jazz. Visit the Links page to access their website for 'what's on'.

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