Tommy Evans Orchestra - The Green Seagull -Evans (cond/comp); Kari Bleivik, Ruby Wood, Anna Stott(vcl); Matt Roberts, Simon Beddoe (tpt/flug); Russell Henderson, Simon Kaylor, Rob Mitchell (reeds); Nick Tyson (gtr); Jamil Sheriff (pno); Dave Kane (bs); Kris Wright (dms).
The programme notes described this as "A suite inspired by the life of the composer's uncle, David Partridge. Commissioned by the Marsden Jazz Festival, this 90-minute piece conjures up Partridge's passion, humour, eccentricity and hope..."
Performed in two 45 minute sets this musical Tour de Force explored every nook and cranny of the jazz canon. At times explorative and brooding whilst painting a picture of Loss or Homelessness whilst at other times dramatically re-creating a Car Crash in Seatbelt. In full flight, the orchestra is awesome, the choir wordlessly blending with the horns. Powerful solos by the saxes and trumpets - Simon Kaylor wild beyond belief on tenor. Russell Henderson, not unknown in the north-east, pushing his alto into the great unknown and returning unscathed, Rob Mitchell doing similar things and the trumpets both going for it and getting it.
The whole caboodle composed and directed by the nodding dog like figure of Evans - his baton a bottle of Bud!
This wasn't the music of tomorrow, it was the music of the day after that and further - Wowability factor high!
Time for more Festival Bitter!
Alan Barnes and William Ellis On Stage. Barnes (alt/ten/talking); Ellis (talking); Bruce Adams (tpt); Dave Newton (pno); Andy Cleyndert (bs); Steve Brown (dms).
As compere and musician Alan Barnes popped up here, there and everywhere - I even shared a cliff lift descent with him! - but tonight was different. Not only was he playing with his peers but also chatting with jazz photographer William Ellis on Ellis' photos before the band took off a piece related to the photo.
So, we had All Blues (Miles); Woody 'n' You (Dizzy); Quicksilver (Horace Silver); Robbin's Nest (Sir Charles Thompson); Speak No Evil (Wayne Shorter); A Pint of Bitter (Clark Terry).
It was entertaining, the music was great and the perfect end to the Ninth Scarborough Jazz Festival.
Next year's 3 day Festival starts on Sept 28, 2012. I've got it in my diary already!
Lance.
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