Bebop Taught Here - Egglescliffe School Jazz Quartet. An Intermission Riff at the Bonded Warehouse, Sunderland

A quartet playing "St. Thomas" and "Billie's Bounce" might prompt you to quote the band's opener "So What?". When the four players are in their early to mid teens it becomes less commonplace and when one of them is a girl blowing boppish tenor then you say to yourself - "Why didn't I go to that school?!"

I don't know any of their names but I'm sure I will do in years to come! (See 'Comments' for first names - it's a start! Then go to Egglescliffe Facebook website. Listen to the downloads and you'll know what I mean - Lance)

This intermission set was one of four that served as an overture to the weekend's Sunderland Big Band Festival.

The opening and closing stints were by the student based Festival Big Band led by Bill Watson and augmented for the occasion by Gordon Marshall on trumpet, Paul Jones (alto) and Colin Haikney (pno). With a line-up of 11 saxes, 2 flutes, 4 trumpets, piano, bass, guitar, drums and, surprisingly, no trombones it isn't difficult to tell what is the 'in' instrument today!

Despite the theoretical inbalance, in practice they sounded good and the trombones weren't unduly missed by this listener.

Paul Jones, who will be leading the saxes of the BBC Big Band tomorrow night, joined Leader Bill Watson (tpt), a blonde girl on tenor who may be called Joanne - correct me someone if I'm wrong - Colin Haikney and the big band's guitar, bass and drums to form a very listenable septet.

The final set by 'les tout ensemble' swung along nicely with some close harmony from a swingy vocal duo whose names I failed to get. Loved their version of NYJO's "The Deflated Bounce".

A very enjoyable evening in a plush(ish) loft that would make an ideal jazz venue and only 60p for a coke - sanity prevails!.

Photos.

Lance.

PS: If anyone can supply names please do. They should be carved with pride.