Roz Sluman (alt), Ray Johnson (tpt), Brian Melville (kbd), Laurence Blackadder (bs), Kenny Reed (dms).
The musical legacy of the great alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley provides a wide variety of styles ranging from hard bop through to soulful ballads and on Saturday night Roz Sluman, with her Big Shoes Band, superbly demonstrated his wonderful and articulate musicianship.
Interspersed with snippets of Cannonball’s life story and descriptions of his compositional style Roz led a lively, well balanced and informative set that not only paid tribute but also demonstrated her own considerable talent on the alto saxophone.
Kicking of with ‘Freddie Freeloader’, strongly underpinned by Laurence Blackadder on bass and Kenny Reed on drums, the scene was set for a ‘jazz treat’ of the highest order.
Brian Melville and Ray Johnson, keyboards and trumpet/flugel respectively, completed the Big Shoes Band and had fine individual moments as the ensemble moved effortlessly through ‘Sack O’woe’, ‘Blue Daniel’, ‘Teaneck’, ‘Work Song’ and ‘Dat Dere’ to name but a few.
Kenny Reed, clearly enjoying himself, came into his own on the aptly named (for a drummer at least!) ‘Sticks’ whilst the highlight of the evening for me was the wonderful ballad ‘Save Your Love For Me’. Taken from the 1961 Cannonball and Nancy Wilson album, the band were never going to be able to capture Wilson’s seductive vocal but the way they moved effortlessly through the changes and the interplay between alto sax and Ray Johnson’s trumpet was a reminder of what beautiful music a jazz ballad can be.
Apparently this was the first time this line-up has played together and also the first time many of them had attempted the music of Cannonball Adderley. Big shoes to step into indeed and the fact that they did so in such style suggests even greater things to come – Miles Davis perhaps?
Catch this band when you can – you will not be disappointed!
Photos from David Gosling.
David Gosling.
2 comments :
we travelled across from Newcastle to Lanercost CC, first visit, wont be the last. Packed house, good beer, friendly crowd. And great jazz ... Rozz & the lads were in good form, an excellent night.
It certainly sounds like it was a good gig. Perhaps Laurence Blackadder could persuade Adrian and co to book them into The Bridge at Newcastle one Sunday night.
Laurence played a great gig at the Bridge with Claude Werner the following night so he's had one helluva good weekend!
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