Welcome Concert, Thursday Evening 2 November 2023 - Whitley Bay Jazz Party 2023

Mike Durham's Whitley Bay Jazz Party 2023 - Welcome Concert The Welcome Concert stomps off at the Village Hotel Pub and Grill led by Matthias Seuffert (reeds), Enrico Tomasso (trumpet), Dan Barrett (trombone), Morten Gunnar Larsen (piano), Felix Hunot (banjo/guitar), Henry Lemaire (string bass) and Nick Ward (drums). Programme notes courtesy of Brian Goggin, editor of VJM magazine. 2023 marks 70 years of Vintage Jazz Mart. The Jazz Party is a unique jazz festival, founded by the late Mike Durham, consisting of 37 Themed Sets, each lasting around either 25 or 55 minutes, held in the splendid Village Hotel ballroom. The Hotel Bar/Grill is used for the Welcome Concert on Thursday evening followed by three Jam Sessions Friday to Sunday after the themed sets, starting at 23.15 through to the early hours of the next morning. Leading classic jazz musicians from Europe (12), The UK (18) and the US (6) are booked. Rehearsals are held all day Thursday and each from Friday to Sunday mornings from 08.30 to 12.00. Rare Films A special treat for 2023 was film shows presented by former leader of Les Hot Antics Jazz Band, Michel ‘Doc’ Bastide. Three 45 minute presentations of his rare jazz films were shown on the giant screen in the hotel's Media Room. Themed Sets Each day the themed sets start at 12.00 through to the dinner break at 17.00, resuming from 19.30 through to 23.00. Everyone attending is allocated a table number on arrival. The location of your allocated table will move twice daily so that everyone gets to move systematically around the ballroom. Sound quality is superb at all locations and there are no pillars to obstruct your view. The enthusiasm of the musicians for the Party is apparent as they play music they rarely get to play on the circuit, to an equally enthusiastic audience. Organisers The Jazz Party has been organised by Patti Durham since the passing of her husband Mike in 2013. Patti was assisted by Jonathan Holmes, Dave Kerr (artwork), Brian Goggin (program notes), the musical directors and many others. The joint musical directors for 2023 were Claus Jacobi (Germany) and Michael McQuaid (Australia/UK). Former musical directors after the passing of Mike Durham were Frans Sjostrom (1944-2023) and Keith Nichols (1945-2020) whose contributions to the survival of the Jazz Party remain deeply appreciated. Many musical arrangements written by Keith Nichols were used throughout the Sets , including the final Set 35 Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra (using the arrangements by both Claus Jacobi and Keith) concluding the 2023 Party with a 27 piece orchestra.