Chris Sharkey: The Open Fund for Music Creators
Commissioned by:
Sage Gateshead
Event date:
5th April 2014
Event venue:
Sage Gateshead
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2014 sees the 10 year anniversary of the Gateshead International Jazz Festival (GIJF). Having been brought up in Gateshead I want to celebrate this event by creating a new 60 minute work for 3 instrumentalists (Myself, bassist Andy Champion and drummer Joost Hendrickx) that references the unique musical history of the North East within the context of a modern jazz performance. My aim is to create a work that draws upon the culture of pop/rock in North East such as Chas Chandler’s work with Jimi Hendrix , Europe’s longest running rock club, the Mayfair Ballroom alongside the emergence of GIJF.
The goal to create an exciting, innovative production that reaches out to both rock and jazz audiences while at the same time launching my first project as a bandleader: ‘Shiver’, a trio of electric guitar, electric bass and drums.
Having secured the venue, performance fee and some of the rehearsal costs (the rehearsals will be open to the Sage’s music students), PRSF will support the commission and production costs including development, off-site rehearsals and travel. Securing funding for the project has ensured that the work can be developed, rehearsed and delivered to a high and professional level.
Following the premiere at GIJF I have had interest from London Jazz Festival, Glasgow Jazz Festival, Jazzlines in Birmingham and Fusebox in Leeds which will increase the potential audience for the work beyond the premiere.