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Gateshead International Jazz Festival and the joy of festivals

Terence Blanchard and Courtney Pine are among the big names appearing at Gateshead International Jazz Festival next weekend. They shared a stage at the 1985 Camden Jazz Festival, conveniently 30 years ago.

At that point, Terence was the emerging trumpeter on the block, earning his spurs with Art Blakey. Courtney was emerging as a leading light of the young guns of Brit jazz, spearheading a new generation of black UK musicians. Both of them have gone on to become hugely important jazz ambassadors – championing the music in their playing, in their attitude and in their ability to take the music to the big wide world, acknowledging their roots in the jazz tradition, as well as their own cultural backgrounds, from New Orleans and urban America (Blanchard), or from London and Jamaica (Pine). They both continue to move jazz forward into new and innovative territory, and follow in the Blakey footsteps by encouraging and mentoring musicians of successive generations. And speaking on behalf of the music publicly and with commitment, passion and generosity.

Festivals are special places where life-long friendships can take root both on the stage, in the crowd and wherever there’s a creative spark. Get down to Gateshead next weekend to be part of this wonderful atmosphere.

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