The Jazz Festival is different for me from last year as I was very new to the Jazz World then but I’m finding my Jazz Feet now and they’re tapping away nicely on Friday evening in the Jazz Lounge, to the sound of ACV. I’d seen this band advertised many times by Lance and others, and it’s great to discover them for myself. As the brochure says, influences of prog rock, I hear Hendrix in there, and Andy Champion does so many fast chord changes that I’m worried that his left hand will fall off.
Next I’m in Hall 2 listening to Soweto Kinch and it’s good to see modern elements fully integrated into jazz. I refer to the hip-hop (or is it rap, somebody tell me the difference). Anyway, one song was a call and response and then we had great fun with the freestyle, based on the word ‘freedom’. This man is an excellent verbal communicator with audiences, never mind his vibrant sax playing.
Saturday and I’m in the loo at the Sage when I hear the most wonderful African singing and am tempted to rush out mid-stream so I don’t miss it. It’s ‘Hannabiell and Midnight Blue’ on the Concourse, wonderful African drums and percussion. This must have been one of the high points of the festival as it stopped everyone in their tracks.
Rapt attention.
Discussion is taking place about alterations to the Jazz Lounge programme as someone is threatening to jump off the Tyne Bridge, so traffic is held up. I then find myself in the lounge, listening to Nick Pride and the Pimptones, another band I’ve only seen advertised, and such professionalism under fire so to speak, as they were obliged to do a shortened set. I’m fascinated at the way Nick manages to integrate instructions to the band into his introductions, such as ‘And horns start this one’, normally stuff he’d say offstage I suppose. The evening sees me checking out the Central Bar, long before the Jam Session, just to see the architecture, which is smart Victorian (I think) and smells fresh and clean. Packed with punters. I predict a great future for this pub.
The main informal event of Sunday was to see my friends from the Sage Blue Jazz singing class doing their stuff on the Concourse with Lindsay Hannon and the Alan Law Trio. And didn’t they do well, Heather, Andrea and Gabby, all different and pleasing, with songs such as ‘All of You’ and ‘Song for my Father’. I’m out of the class this term (folk music called me back) but, (Health and Safety Warning to the Blue Jazzers ), I intend to return.
Oh, I forgot to mention the delights of the Horn Dogs (Horns, with cymballed bass drum and Snare drum, a set up I’d not seen before) and the wonderful Rocket Science (jazz/rock) whom I’m pleased to say I discovered for myself long before my jazz days. And two singers with them, and one used her voice as a musical instrument when singing with the band. Must try that soon.
Ann Alex
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