Rocket Science: Josephine Turner (tpt/keys), Josh James (tpt), David Grey (tmb), Charlotte McGinn (alt), Matthew Foster (ten), Chris Brown (bar0, Colm Rooney (pno) Ivan Scutt (bs), Charles Harrison (solos), Robert Griffiths (gtrs), Syd Wright (dms). Jim Birkett (MD).
Jambone: Matthew Spence (gtr), Ivan Scutt (Bs), Sid Wright (Dms) Harley Johnson (Pno/Keys), Christine Clark, Stuart Clarke, Joe Lunec (alt), Loretta Tosson, Oscar Knights (ten), Joe Woods (bar), Jo Turner, Simon Dennis, Jack Courtney, George Burdon, Thomas Hill (tpts), Rob Stroud, Graham Thorpe, Jimmy Ingram, Isaac Harrison-Louth (tmbs). Shaune Eland, Dave Hignett (M.D.)
Rocket Science, led by Jim Birkett, applied big band techniques to contemporary jazz/rock/funk numbers in a set that worked well.
It would be unfair to single out individuals although guest tenor player Matthew Foster was particularly impressive and the ease with which Josephine Turner moved from trumpet soloist to funky keyboard player also ticked the boxes. Later, Jo segued across to Jambone changing her outfit in the process!
However, whether soloing or playing in section these 16/17 year-olds know the score.
Excellent band.
Several of the Rocket Scientists, apart from Ms Turner, made the transition to Jambone - the Sage's Youth Jazz Orchestra - Terrific young drummer Syd Wright, bassist Ivan Scutt amongst them.
With Shaune Eland and Dave Hignett alternating MD duties the band played numbers from NYJO, Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton and others.
Caravan - taken from a version by The Airmen of Note - saw some fine blowing by Loretta. That girl never fails to impress me. She's on her way to study at Leeds so who knows how she will emerge from that prime seat of musical knowledge. The whole arrangement was one of complexity and imagination and they handled it without missing a beat. Great solos all round.
On Buddy's Basically Blues Harley had an extended introduction that launched the rest into orbit.
The final piece from the Kenton pad was Live and Let Die featuring a band within a band as an additional front line! - it worked wonderfully.
I had to miss the encore as Whitley Bay beckoned but I couldn't help wondering about the band's future with so many of them moving on to more verdant musical pastures - in theory at any rate! Then I remembered the set by Rocket Science and relaxed in the knowledge that there was talent a plenty waiting in the wings.
Lance.
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