Jazz North East: Jazz Promoter
Jazz North East Ltd is the UK’s longest established grant-aided jazz promotions organisation, having been set up in 1966 to organise concerts in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and the surrounding area. It is an entirely voluntary organisation, and a registered charity.
Although its early programme included some concerts in the New Orleans to Swing styles, it now concentrates on the presentation of the highest quality national and international modern jazz (from bebop to contemporary), including such developments as free jazz and non-idiomatic improvisation. Recent artists include the Empirical, the Ryan Quigley Sextet, the Michael Janisch Quintet, the Profound Sound Trio, the Alyn Cosker Quartet and the Alexander Hawkins Ensemble.
JNE presents up to 20 concerts a year, normally as a solo promoter, but where appropriate entering into co-promotions with other regional organisations such as JazzAction, Gateshead Libraries and Arts (especially gigs requiring a piano), and Schmazz @ the Cluny. It also organised the international “On the Outside” Festival of free jazz and improvisation: loss of funding means that this has been discontinued, but it is hoped to promote a year round series of associated gigs under the same title.