The Bonded Wharehouse, a waterfront bar down on Sunderland's southside, was the scene for the opening night of Sunderland's Annual Big Band Festival.As in previous years trumpet player & Musical Director Bill Watson led his young stars from the front. Augmented by the BBC Radio Big Band's Paul Jones on alto - sadly, funding cuts mean the Radio Big Band will be absent this year - Gordon Marshall (tpt) and Colin Haikney, occasionally on keys, the 20 piece aggregation produced a big fat ensemble sound.
Paul Jones played some wonderful alto solos - loping vertical lines that really flowed - a present day Art Pepper. Not that he had it all his own way - there were a couple of young altoists in the section who stood up and soloed with equal intensity.
It had been some time since I'd seen, heard and chatted with Gordon Marshall but I'm pleased to say he seems to have recovered from a recent health scare although these days he does more teaching than gigging.
I passed on regards from Ray Harley.
Gordon blew well both solowise and leadwise. Leader Bill Watson also scored and took part in an exciting series of chase choruses with the other trumpet players who more than held their own.
The trombones were smooth as silk whilst the rhythym section - with or without mentor Colin Haikney - excelled. Jack the bass whom I heard on Tuesday with the Customs House Big Band and the Hot House Dragons before that soloed with a rich full tone and hit all the right ones in the underpinnings. Talking HHDs Willie Angus played tenor in the reed section although it was the stunning blonde Joanne? who took the solos and played in the band within a band set.
A girl vocalist also sang very effectively - cool sounding I'd have liked to have heard her with say a trio or a quartet.
Talking about quartets...
As they were last year, for me, the Egglescliffe School Jazz Quartet were the icing on the case.
Loretta on tenor, Angus (not Willie!) on bass, Jonny on keys and Tom on drums played a fine set of bop to jazz rock standards - Billie's Bounce, Canteloupe Island etc.
Now in their final year at school I hope they have the future in music that they deserve.
A grand opening to this year's festival - tomorrow and Sunday it's the cut and thrust of the competition. I will leave that report to Russell - the Simon Cowell of the jazzworld.
Lance
PS: Sorry but I didn't get all the names so if Jack or anyone else in the band cares to give me a run down I'll carve their names with pride.
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