About The Jazz Club
Jazz At The Fell Jazz Club, in it's 16th year, was founded by Ray Brown and Lance Cousins in 1994 and is situated in the function room of the Gateshead Fell Cricket Club. With over 750 Friday night sessions, the club is an excellent intimate venue noted for the friendly atmospher and dancing. After the unexpected death of Ray Brown in 2000, the Club is run by Ron Pollard and with the help of committee members.
The yearly program consists of approximately 12 guest bands and soloists, about one per month, and the best local musicians in various bands playing in the remaining weeks mainly New Orleans, Chicago and Dixieland style jazz.
Over the years there has been visits from many well known bands including Phil Mason, Pete Allen, TJ Johnson, Climax Jazz Band from Canada, Oriental Jazz from Holland, Yorkshire Stompers, Millennium Eagle Band, New Orleans Heat, Chicago Teddy Bears, Happy Chappies, Martin Bennetts's Band, Sussex Jazz Kings and Keith Stephen's Hot Club Trio. Well known soloists have included John Crocker, Roy Williams, Mike Piggott, Keith Nichols, John Hallam, George Huxley, Ged Hone, Tim Kliphuis, John Cowan, Steve Graham, Sammy Rimington and many others.
Popular local bands including The Rae Brothers New Orleans Jazz Band and the Maine Street Jazzmen make regular visits and although a members club, visitors and guests are always welcome.
After almost 17 years (over 800 Friday nights) the Gateshead Fell Cricket Club Committee told the Jazz Club to find another venue and so the session on 28th January 2011 with the West Jesmond Rhythm Kings was the last session at that venue. The new venue Gateshead Legion Club had it's first session on the 11th February 2011 with the Maine Street Jazzmen. The address is 142, Coatsworth Road, Gateshead NE8 4LL with access at the rear with car parking from an entrance in Whitehall Road by the Church. It is also on a bus route numbers 53 and 54.
Contact Ron Pollard for more details on 01912623735 or email ronpollardffjaz@yahoo.co.uk