Jazz breaking news: Countdown To Gateshead Jazz Festival

Blondie’s Debbie Harry will be the main attraction on the opening night, in the company of the New York avant jazz group Jazz Passengers and the Northern Sinfonia, conducted by Robert Ziegler. The singer whose hits include ‘Rapture’ and ‘Heart of Glass’ has performed alongside the Jazz Passengers extensively, having appeared with them as far back as their 1994 album Jazz Passengers In Love.

Now in its seventh year Gateshead, the first major UK jazz festival of the year, sports an impressive line-up encompassing a wide array of talent and styles, from the UK, other parts of Europe and the US. Of the British Dame Cleo Laine returns, alongside son Alec Dankworth and daughter Jacqui Dankworth, following their sell-out show at the festival two years ago. Also for Gateshead are acclaimed saxophonist Joe Lovano with his group Us5; British guitarist Martin Taylor; US jazz-rock guitarist Mike Stern; and alto saxophonist/rapper Soweto Kinch, who will be playing music from his latest album The New Emancipation. In a return to his hometown, Gateshead-born guitarist Chris Sharkey of trioVD is also on the bill along with a host of other top names.

– Stephen Graham

For more go to www.thesagegateshead.org