Sound ideas on venues
Jazz music was played at a diverse range of venues over the weekend, from small intimate coffee shops to the stage of the Palace Theatre.
Churches and pubs, shops and restaurants, and even trains, hosted a wide variety of jazz designed to appeal to music lovers of all ages.
The contrast between the venues was keenly felt by one musician who went from performing at the Palace Theatre to his first ever solo gig at Ambience Interiors on Stodman Street.
Jazz guitarist Mr Peter Thorpe (25) played with the Borderlines Quartet of Elston in the final of the East Midlands Young Jazz Awards at noon.
The former pupil at Toot Hill School, Bingham, who lives in Sutton-on-Trent, then rushed across town to begin a two-hour set in Ambience Interior’s coffee shop.
“It was an entirely different environment,” said Mr Thorpe.
“I was told I would be providing background music, but it ended up being a concert.”
Mr Thorpe was asked to play by festival director Mr Nathan Bray, who helped to organise the young jazz awards.
He repeated his solo performance at Salt on Castlegate on Sunday afternoon.
“I have done about 350 gigs before, but only in a band context so the positive feedback I received was quite pleasing,” said Mr Thorpe.
He thought Ambience Interiors, which was involved in the festival for the first time, was a great venue.
“The people have been absolutely superb and the hospitality has been great,” he said.
“There is no way I’d agree to do a gig on my own at the Palace Theatre, but this is an ideal venue to play.”
The owner of Ambience Interiors, Mr Andrew Timpson, said they had hoped to have the performance in the garden at the back of the shop, but the weather was not good enough.
Mr Timpson said they wanted to contribute to the festival and help develop it.
“The more places that participate, the more of an attraction it becomes in the town,” he said.
“A lot of people put a lot of effort into putting the thing together and as a retailer you expect to reap some of the reward, so its only fair to put something back in as well.”
Also hosting jazz for the first time this year was The Buttermarket, where shoppers were serenaded as they browsed on Saturday.
Performers played half-hour sessions on the first floor of the centre from 10am-2pm.
Taking a break from shopping to listen to Graham Tranfield and friends perform was Mrs Kathy Gascoigne (43) of Beacon Hill, Newark, and her son Joseph (4).
“It is just brilliant,” she said.
“I think the festival is a really lovely idea. It brings the town alive and brings people in.”
The Buttermarket manager, Mr Martin Rendle, said: “I wish I could have it every week.
“I think this festival is a fantastic idea and it is going to get stronger year by year.
“It is something we are going to get more and more involved in.
“There is such a tremendous atmosphere. Everybody is happy and smiling,” he said.
Holdens of Newark has become a well established venue in the festival programme.
It proved a favourite for the large audience who relaxed in the shop’s comfy seats as they listened to the Jake McMahon Quartet.
Jazz enthusiasts Mr and Mrs Neil Moran, of The Spinney, Winthorpe, came into town especially for the festival.
Mr Moran (48) said Holdens was a great place for a jazz concert.
“It is good of them to let us use it and sit on their sofas,” he said.
“It’s an unusual venue, rather than just a pub or club.”
The couple had set out a programme of performances they would attend at the weekend and invited relatives from Sheffield to join them.
Mrs Liz Moran (46) said: “I think it is great. Last year I thought I hope they do it again and this time it looks to be even better.”
