Antonio Forcione Guitars

From the first moment Antonio walks on stage to rapturous applause, a humble smile on his face, guitar in hand, you know you are in the presence of a true artist and are in for an evening with a touch of magic. And as the first deep, warm, intense notes float through the auditorium, you can hear a pin drop and feel the sonic spell of his guitar weaving through the room. As one critic put it “Imagine an Italian hybrid of Michael Hedges, John McLaughlin and Django Reinhardt … ferocious, rampaging, controlled power, meticulous precision and clarity of expression … astonishing musical personality” 

Antonio’s impressive 21 albums and extensive international tours in festivals and theatres – both as a solo artist, in duo and with his acoustic quartet – have brought high critical acclaim from as far as Australia and Hong Kong to the Caribbean, Russia and all over Europe. He has the ‘hands of a tarantula and the heart of a lion’, as another critic so expressively phrased it!

Nigel Price Guitar

Vasilis Xenopoulos Tenor sax

Ross Stanley Organ

Joel Barford Drums

“Wes Montgomery guitar fans need look no further than the UK’s Nigel Price on Wes Reimagined (Ubuntu) – respectful in catching Montgomery’s warmth, but also the work of a thoroughly contemporary enthusiast.” -John Fordham –

Some 54 years after Wes Montgomery passed, his music and playing still inspire musicians and listeners. Wes’ music puts a smile on faces with its blend of bebop and blues. The music is sometimes simple, full of interest and always accessible.

The band is a delight. Over a career spanning more than 25 years, award-winning jazz guitarist Nigel Price has become widely acknowledged as one of the hardest working musicians in the business. Musically, his blend of flowing bebop lines, deep blues sensibility and his mastery of chording continue to delight audiences and fellow musicians alike.

This band is a celebration of Montgomery: they are not a tribute band. There is room for every one of these top drawer musicians to solo and shine, honouring, not copying Montgomery.

“When the players are Vasilis Xenopoulos and Nigel Price…..the outcome is downright irresistible” – The Guardian ★★★★

How many Hammond endorsees do we ever get to hear. Ross Stanley is an amazing organist. We are delighted to welcome Joel Barford to Fleece Jazz.

Martin Shaw Trumpet

Alan Barnes Alto sax

Andy Panayi Tenor sax

Terry Seabrook Piano

Paul Whitten Bass

Spike Wells Drums

“This was arguably the best concert I have heard in Gateshead Town Hall since Sonny Stitt took it apart in the 1960s . . .”

– Bebop Spoken Here

Miles Davis and his sidemen made musical history when they recorded the iconic album Kind of Blue. They created a unique atmosphere of understated themes and improvisation and Kind of Blue went on to become one of the greatest and best loved jazz recordings of all time.

More than sixty years on, Terry Seabrook has assembled an all-star sextet, Milestones, to revisit the album and celebrate the music of Miles Davis. The band has toured extensively at clubs and festivals around the UK.

The album line-up reads like a “who’s who” of British jazz, with the fabulous Martin Shaw (Cleo Laine, John Dankworth, Peter King, Tim Garland) taking on the Miles role. Also in the “who’s who” bracket are Fleece Jazz favourite and multi-award winner Alan Barnes on sax, along with the magnificent Andy Panayi and a first-rate rhythm section, pianist Terry Seabrook, bassist and Spike Wells on drums.  The band pays due respuect to Miles’ original music whilst allowing the musicians to showcase their own brilliance and improvisational skills.

“. . . thoughtful and considered, yet full of jazz potency”

–  Peter Vacher Jazzwise

A welcome return for this fantastic outfit who, since 1998, have been bringing together some of the area’s top musicians to create their own distinct brand of fast-moving, hard-hitting, foot-tapping contemporary big band jazz.

Nineteen of the best local jazz musicians come together and share their passion for big, bold, beautiful music.

Horn Factory perform an impressive and extensive range of contemporary big band jazz by composers such as Buddy Rich, Bob Mintzer, Quincy Jones, Oliver Nelson, Maynard Ferguson, James Morrison, Bobby Shew, Sammy Nestico and Gordon Goodwin, plus arrangements of music normally associated with smaller groups, including Thelonious Monk, Joe Henderson, Chuck Mangione, Chick Corea and Horace Silver.

Most of the charts have been composed in the last 15 years, bringing the big band genre right up to date with music that absolutely crackles with energy!

“Eighteen fine musicians on the extended Fleece Jazz stage gave us a mighty gig. I love the sound of a horn chorus, but to have fourteen of them in chorus was really something else: loved it.”

–  Dave Lyons, Fleece Jazz

Zoe Schwarz Vocals

Rob Koral Guitars

Pete Whittaker Organ

Paul Robinson Drums

Some quotes from live gigs:

“A different level of class. Zoe’s vocal: powerful yet vulnerable. Rob, Pete and Paul turned out a masterclass in Schofield-esque sophistication”

“This is a band of exceptional quality, fronted by the stellar vocals of Zoe Schwarz; you really shouldn’t miss the opportunity to enjoy them” 

“Powerful singing, great guitar work, phenomenal Hammond… a great set and Zoe is such a stylish performer”

I had not intended using so many quotes, but so many good things have been written about this outfit. Of Zoe: “She also sings with honesty, emotion and intensity” (David J.Scott, Blues Revue)

And from Zoe herself:

“Blues isn’t about twelve bars. It’s about passion and melancholy; it’s about world weary angst.” 

Come join us for blues at its best.

Sara Oschlag Vocals

Jonny Hepbir Guitar

Jason Henson Guitar

Dan Sheppard Bass

Sara has a beautiful voice, a natural musician’s ear and a superb sense of swing. Jim Mullen says of her, “She displays a maturity beyond her years in her song selection as well as her interpretation and whether swinging hard or caressing a ballad, Sara takes the listener on a journey, breathing new life into the old standards”.

She says, “Being a musician is teamwork. You gotta listen to each other & support each other musically: be the foundation, guide or give space. But always listen & look around. Without communication there is no jazz. “ And she has a very fine team.

A quote about the band: “”you guys are good… really good!” (Sir Paul McCartney). 

The band offers a vibrant blend of Gypsy Swing, funky Latin tunes and cool Jazz Standards, spanning across the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s, all mashed up with some snappy arrangements and played from the heart.

Gaz Hughes Drums and Bandleader

Alan Barnes Saxes

Bruce Adams Trumpet

Andrzej Baranek  Piano

Ed Harrison Bass

Tonight, drummer Gaz Hughes will honour the music of one of the true jazz drumming greats in a glorious quintet with Alan Barnes on saxes, Bruce Adams on trumpet,  Andrzej Baranek  on piano and Ed Harrison on bass. The art of ‘Jazz Messenger’ Art Blakey (1919–1990) – described by fellow drummer Max Roach as ‘Thunder’ – is captured superbly by Hughes.

The feel-good factor is there: this band’s easier-swinging interpretation is refreshing, with Bruce Adams’ piercing trumpet improv a stand-out. The entire ensemble sparkles as one; and whilst classic jazz numbers are just that, it will be great to hear them portrayed by today’s players and with their depth and clarity.

John Law Piano

Sam Crockatt Saxes

Hendrik Jensen Bass

Alex Goodyear Drums

“. . . so full of joy that it can renew your faith not just in jazz, but in music itself”

– Independent on Sunday

A prize-winning classical prodigy on piano, John turned away from classical piano studies to pursue jazz and improvised music when he was 23, and has been involved in, and acclaimed for, a wide variety of contemporary jazz and classical projects ever since – from solo piano concerts and albums, trio and quartet tours and recordings, to large scale works for his semi-classical ensemble Cornucopia.

Formed in 2016, as a counterfoil to pianist John Law’s group Congregation (which mixed contemporary jazz with electronic sounds and backing tracks), Re-Creations began life as a fun project, with the aim of playing many different tunes from different musical genres. The fact that audiences almost always knew the songs, meant the group’s material was at the same time very accessible.

This quartet’s repertoire includes jazz classics by Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis and George Gershwin, plus tunes from pop/rock/indie bands such as Pink Floyd, The Beatles, Stevie Wonder and Radiohead. Gradually, classical pieces have started appearing in the repertoire, including a version of the Kyrie from Rossini’s Petite Messe Solenelle and Satie’s Gymnopédie.

“Melodic contemporary jazz with a strong rhythmic pulse and some strikingly memorable and original tunes”

–  Sandy Brown Jazz

Dave Lyons Saxes

Maciek Pysz Marimba

Dave Jones Bass

Stee Jordan Drums

“This is highly melodic music that is readily accessible, but consistently intriguing, and full of rhythmic sophistication.  It all makes for a very distinctive album and one that deserves to do well.” – The JazzMann

A musician who cites Jan Garbarek, Ralph Towner, John Coltrane and Jimi Hendrix among his influences, Julian’s playing has a sense of graceful lyricism and an inner strength, carefully crafting his improvising, which is beautifully structured and mellow.

All four musicians have strong and distinctive individual voices, but the sound they collectively produce is warm, playful, intimate, intricate, intense and, most importantly, far from banal or boring. Don’t take my word for it, look at these reviews! 

“All in all, masterfully written and played, elegant and expressive.  I’d wholeheartedly recommend giving this a listen.” – Lance Liddell,  Bebop Spoken Here, on  Connections: without borders. 

“Connections is a very enjoyable and often very beautiful album, one that again demonstratesCostello’s flair for melody and his abilityto build and sustaina specific mood or feeling”. – The JazzMann

Julian Costello Saxes

David Beebee Piano

Dave Jones Bass

Eric Ford Drums

“This is highly melodic music that is readily accessible, but consistently intriguing, and full of rhythmic sophistication.  It all makes for a very distinctive album and one that deserves to do well.” – The JazzMann

A musician who cites Jan Garbarek, Ralph Towner, John Coltrane and Jimi Hendrix among his influences, Julian’s playing has a sense of graceful lyricism and an inner strength, carefully crafting his improvising, which is beautifully structured and mellow.

All four musicians have strong and distinctive individual voices, but the sound they collectively produce is warm, playful, intimate, intricate, intense and, most importantly, far from banal or boring. Don’t take my word for it, look at these reviews! 

“All in all, masterfully written and played, elegant and expressive.  I’d wholeheartedly recommend giving this a listen.” – Lance Liddell,  Bebop Spoken Here, on  Connections: without borders. 

“Connections is a very enjoyable and often very beautiful album, one that again demonstratesCostello’s flair for melody and his abilityto build and sustaina specific mood or feeling”. – The JazzMann