Splinter @ The Arts Centre is a new initiative from Jazz Action seeking to establish a contemporary jazz scene in Darlington. Darlington Arts Centre is a well appointed venue offering everything the jazz fan could possibly want. The Arts Centre has built a well-deserved reputation as an excellent mainstream jazz spot with every British and many American names of note stopping by over the years. The Splinter launch gig featured four of the very best of the region's contemporary bands playing across a leisurely Saturday afternoon.
Saxophonics: Keith Robinson (alto & soprano saxophones), Steve Summers (tenor & alto saxophones), Graeme Wilson (tenor saxophone) & Niall Armstrong (baritone saxophone) opened the show. The band's composer and arranger in chief Graeme Wilson arrived in good time having just flown in from a previous engagement and the quartet delivered yet another polished and highly entertaining set. Michael Mower (of Itchy Fingers fame) is a source of material for the band - Full English Breakfast and Quark were given an outing. A real delight is the 'in house' writing of Wilson; Damfino and Stranded at the Wine Bar are perfect vehicles for all four musicians to demonstrate their talents as ensemble players and equally fine soloists. As Graeme might say...Damfino.
ACV: Andy Champion (double bass), Paul Edis (keyboards), Graeme Wilson (tenor & baritone saxophones), Mark Williams (guitar) & Adrian Tilbrook (drums). The indefatigable Graeme Wilson remained on the band stand as next up was ACV. Bebop Spoken Here regulars will have read George M's reviews of ACV's recent gigs in London and Glasgow. First The Smoke, then the Gorbals, then, if it is Saturday, it must be Darlo. The band in a small room - we were in the Art Centre's Garden Bar - is quite an experience. George has eloquently conveyed the majesty and power of the tunes in the set list, I need say no more other than to highlight the closing number - Without Bones - and the band's first rate musicianship. An additional thought is this: in the fortieth anniversary year of Miles' Bitches Brew, guitarist Mark Williams at times evokes John McLaughlin's playing on Miles Runs the Voodoo Down (there is no greater praise) and pianist Paul Edis conjures up the Fender Rhodes sound of Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock. ACV can be heard again in the Garden Bar on November 1st - be there.
Alter Ego: Keith Robinson (alto saxophone), Niall Armstrong (tenor saxophone & flute), Dave Hignett (trumpet & flugel horn), Andy Hawking (keyboards), Andy Champion (double bass) & David Francis (drums). Anything Graeme Wilson can do Andy Champion can do too (so there!). Champion stayed on to play with Alter Ego. Champion, now the permanent bass player with the band or as Keith Robinson pointed out the current occupant of the chair, really does enjoy working in this Blue Note bop ensemble. The Jazz Messengers' feel to the band is in no small part down to the excellent driving drumming of David Francis. The Bobby Shew number Red Snapper and Bobby Watson's A Wheel Within a Wheel are regulars in the pad and we also heard some Hank Mobley with Roll Call being given an airing.This was yet another good set.
Claude Werner Quartet: Claude Werner (tenor saxophone), Lloyd Wright (guitar), Lawrence Blackadder (double bass) & David Carnegie (drums). This was Claude in restrained form. Guitarist Lloyd Wright, to these ears a perfect foil to the Main Man, was given much space to play. The set was a quiet affair. Claude was most certainly in reflective mood. We heard Kids, The Silence and an older Werner tune A Chant. This band is a really tight working unit. It is a pleasure to hear them each and every time. Lloyd Wright, with Legohead, can be heard tonight in Newcastle at Splinter @ The Bridge.
Denizens of Darlo....you have some great jazz on your doorstep. Step into the Garden Bar to hear it. The next session, featuring Nick Pride and the Pimptones, is on Monday Sepember 20th (7:30 pm) - don't miss it!
Russell 
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