David Carnegie (drums), Pete Tanton (trumpet & flugel horn), Mark Williams (guitar), Stuart Davies (electric bass) & Stuart Collingwood (keyboards)
A few years ago, in a Newcastle pub (since demolished), in walked a new face from where we knew not. He was looking to sit in. He sat in. Wow! We thought ''Who is this guy?'' Drummer David Carnegie was soon to become a fixture on the scene. A quiet, unassuming character, he could play. Yes, he could play alright.
Last night at the Bridge Hotel Carnegie's band Extreme Measures played a farewell gig. David is leaving us to return home to Barbados. The Bridge was busy, the audience (musicians were out in force) listened, this was a last chance to hear the band. Perhaps it was the occasion, whatever it was, guitarist Mark Williams played his socks off. Ah, but he always does. Doesn't he? This was an exceptional performance even by the Irishman's most exacting standards.
The newest recruit to the band, from Louisiana, USA, trumpeter Pete Tanton, is another to have emerged from seemingly nowhere. Trumpet or flugel, his tone is crystal clear with a fully formed lyrical sound, be it at a slow or not so slow tempo! The two local lads (the two Stuarts) aren't lacking in talent (anything but!) making the quintet as good as it gets. The opening number - Nautical - a Stuart Collingwood original, featured the composer then Tanton with, at times, the group sound emanating from the direction of the Jazz Messengers. The other Stu, bassist S.Davies, wrote Double Bubble. The band played it and guitarist Williams was, well, Williams (with a little bit of Sco) as Davies added a little bit of Marcus Miller to compliment Tanton's Milesian muted trumpet work (circa You're Under Arrest). Jamie McCredie, the band's guitarist at its inception, moved down to London a while ago but wasn't forgotten as his tune Her Anxiety was given a blast. Tanton played flugel on a blues and again on The Best Laid Plans. Other highlights included Carnegie's Paradigm Shift and Escape (a new one from Collingwood). A cracking band. I guess all good things come to an end. Hopefully Mr.Carnegie will return some day.
Last night at the Bridge Hotel Carnegie's band Extreme Measures played a farewell gig. David is leaving us to return home to Barbados. The Bridge was busy, the audience (musicians were out in force) listened, this was a last chance to hear the band. Perhaps it was the occasion, whatever it was, guitarist Mark Williams played his socks off. Ah, but he always does. Doesn't he? This was an exceptional performance even by the Irishman's most exacting standards.
The newest recruit to the band, from Louisiana, USA, trumpeter Pete Tanton, is another to have emerged from seemingly nowhere. Trumpet or flugel, his tone is crystal clear with a fully formed lyrical sound, be it at a slow or not so slow tempo! The two local lads (the two Stuarts) aren't lacking in talent (anything but!) making the quintet as good as it gets. The opening number - Nautical - a Stuart Collingwood original, featured the composer then Tanton with, at times, the group sound emanating from the direction of the Jazz Messengers. The other Stu, bassist S.Davies, wrote Double Bubble. The band played it and guitarist Williams was, well, Williams (with a little bit of Sco) as Davies added a little bit of Marcus Miller to compliment Tanton's Milesian muted trumpet work (circa You're Under Arrest). Jamie McCredie, the band's guitarist at its inception, moved down to London a while ago but wasn't forgotten as his tune Her Anxiety was given a blast. Tanton played flugel on a blues and again on The Best Laid Plans. Other highlights included Carnegie's Paradigm Shift and Escape (a new one from Collingwood). A cracking band. I guess all good things come to an end. Hopefully Mr.Carnegie will return some day.
Russell
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