Louise Gibbs (vcl); James Lancaster (tpt); John McKillup (ten); Zezo Olimpio (pno); Paul Baxter (bs); Paul Smith (dms).
The centerpiece of the Second Musicon Durham Jazz Festival - sandwiched in between John Taylor, last night, and Omar Puente, tomorrow - was this tribute to Horace Silver whose quintets gave birth to the Jazz Messengers back in the 1950s. This was about as tasty a filling as you'll find in any Jazz Sandwich! Two horns swinging like Blue Mitchell and Junior Cook and a rhythm section that could have been the Blue Note House Band made this a night to remember.
Oh yes! and there was also a singer...
Think Anita O'Day, Annie Ross, and you get an idea where Louise Gibbs is at although, having said that, she's very much her own gal. Soaring high, pitching perfectly, scatting, this was one of those evenings that gelled.
Sister Sadie, Tokyo Blues, Soulville, Song For My Father, Cool Eyes - the voice/bass duo intro was something else! - The Jody Grind (tenor and voice were blistering on this one).
Horace-scope. I loved everything but Horace-scope stood out! A great theme sung vocalese in unison with the horns. It reminded me of those wonderful sides by Charlie Ventura's Bop For The People Band with Roy Kral and Jackie Cain.
Senor Blues, Peace, Nica's Dream and a slightly hokey version of The Preacher showed us the way to go home!.
As a matter of interest, Louise is from New Zealand, pianist Olimpio hails from Brazil, drummer Smith (not 'wor' Paul Smith) is from Leeds, paradoxically, trumpet ace Lancaster is from York and Baxter Bass is currently keeping mean time in Greenwich whilst tenorman McKillup hails from Prudhoe. I wonder if he began his musical life in the Prudhoe School Band that performs regularly at big band festivals?
To make the evening complete, Russell, Tony and I got to chat with Louise.
Lance.
PS:Thank you Sandi Russell for making this festival happen.
PPS: An interesting sideshow occurred during the concert when someone, performing an act of nature in the upstairs toilet, omitted to pull down the blind...
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