Jazz North East's latest concert featured the welcome return of Djangologie. The band has undergone something of a transformation of late with a minor change of name (formerly Djangology) and the two guitar chairs previously occupied by Paul Donnelly and Dave Harris have been taken by James Birkett and Giles Strong.
Bass player Mick Shoulder is a big fan of Django Reinhardt and it his passion for the music of the Manouche that makes this band the success it is. The Hot Club style works well in the hands of first class players and this quartet is a first class outfit.
Coquette, Belleville, Nuages, Minor Swing - all great tunes associated with Django - were a joy to listen to. Violinist Emma Fisk is a virtuoso player, likewise James Birkett and together they knocked out cracking solos on Coquette, Birkett again on Belleville and unsung rhythm guitarist Giles Strong featured on Nuages with Fisk producing a wonderful coda. The nuances of the music weren't lost on the audience although Shoulder's schoolboy French was lost on many of those present!
Douce Ambiance, Stompin' at Decca and Sheik of Araby were in the pad, the latter featuring some dazzling fretwork from Birkett with Shoulder impressing, as did, yet again, Fisk the Fiddler. Shoulder brought along one or two original pieces - Django's Stomp and In My Quiet Place were stand-out numbers - and there was a genuine empathy between all four musicians with this material and the classic Hot Club numbers. A real highlight was Oh, Lady Be Good with steaming ensemble work, brilliance from Fisk and brilliance from Birkett.
This was an evening of exemplary musicianship at the Hot Club du Heaton. Djangologie's next engagement is a week on Saturday evening (March 3) at Northumbria University. A great night is guaranteed.
Russell.
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