Lickety Split @ Ashington Jazz Club Wed.March 7.

Eddie Bellis (tmb), John Hudson (ten), Alan Marshall (alt), Kevin Eland (tpt/flug) Bill Britton (key) Roy Willis (gtr), Alan Rudd (bs) Paul Wight (Drums).  (Band photo courtesy of Peter S.)

The AJC returned to the Elephant after a winter break for the first meeting of the year.

Someone thought we may have gained sponsorship from a well known Ice Cream manufacturer who may have chosen the Club for a promotion for a new product. In fact Lickety Split was our event to start off the 2012 programme. Not only was this a first visit but also one of the larger bands to grace our stage. The evidence was obvious as the brass, guitar and keyboard assembled in front of the stage with bass and drums comfortably behind.

A near full house audience arrived - all eagerly anticipating the Jazz experience. What a superb evening we had of, near, Big Band Power. 

This is a well rehearsed group of instrumentalists who performed Swing, Bebop and Blues in a variety of rhythmic patterns. Eddie Bellis introduced each number to inform the members and gave the musicians  recovery time before the next item. Ray Chester was given credit for many of the arrangements and we were introduced to a number of original compositions from within this talented group.

Four of the band had appeared with other bands before at Ashington and it was no surprise that they have complete mastery of their instruments and are able to perform in a variety of styles. They all bonded musically so well and presented a polished and professional concert.

By the finale we had experienced 21 examples of this wonderful Jazz Art form. It had been a very successful evening for the members who responded enthusiastically and the musicians who had enjoyed the night warmly applauded. As an encore the evening closed with I'm Beginning to See the Light which was an appropriate conclusion as this programme may have inspired some to consider other Jazz forms adding to the considerable knowledge that they have. We in the North East have such a wealth of great musicians on our doorstep we should be increasingly grateful and realize that Way up North there are many musical delights away from the smoke of the South. I strongly recommend the band to you.

PROGRAMME- Blues Walk, Don't Take the B Train, Westwood Walk, Lift Off, Going Dutch, St. Thomas, Midnight Oil, So What?, Four, Well You Needn't, Janine, Along Came Betty, Dolphin Dance, Stolen Moments, Another Three Put, What's New? Sister Sadie.
Photos from Jim Fay, Oliver Soden, Peter S.

Next Meeting at the Elephant in Ashington - Wednesday, April 4th. at 8.30 p.m.

Guests - A double bill - From Italy - Dos Guitars  AND Elaine Binney and the Jazz Rascals.

Peter S.