Conte Candoli (tpt); Frank Rosolino (tmb); Bud Shank (alt); Richie Kamuca (ten); Russ Freeman (pno); Monty Budwig (bs); Barney Kessel (gtr); Shelly Manne (dms).
OK so that wasn't the real line-up but close your eyes and it could have been!
Actually it was Kevin Eland (tpt/flug); Eddie Bellis (tmb); John Hudson (ten); Alan Marshall (alt); Bill Brittain (pno); Alan Rudd (bs); Roy Willis (gtr); Paul Wight (dms) who created the illusion that we were hearing a band from LA when in fact it was pure home grown talent!
Lickety Split have found a niche that was screaming out to be filled. Screaming out to be filled by an audience that neither wanted to be Taken Back to New Orleans nor had any inclination to view life On The Outside.
LS (silly name does nothing to pull the audience they aim at) has some great soloists - each and every one comparable with their LA counterparts. The arrangements are terrific (including a couple by Sunderland's Ray Chester).
The walls of the room are bedecked with portraits of bygone statesmen - dour, unforgiving gentlemen from days of yore (or should it be wor in Newcastle?) frowning upon these musical infidels who dare to infiltrate this holy of holy's. When Kev Eland blew some notes that their current MD Gabriel could only .dream about I swear the portraits smiled.
Archangels Hudson and Marshall descended and promptly took us back to the promised land where jazz and music were once equals. Bellis is a welcome addition to the local trombone ranks and his mic. technique is bumblingly effective - rather like Chris Barber's!
Nice to hear some Roy Willis guitar solos - too long he's been the unsung hero of many a rhythm section but not tonight - Tonight there was a tide in the affairs of Roy.which, taken at the flood, led on to (musical) fortune; Roy took it at the flood with both hands and a plectrum.
Bass and drums kept it all together - Rudd playing Miles' All Blues could earn him a Maine Street Jazzmen ASBO!
Paul on drums - great.
On a downer, although the Lit and Phil was reasonably well attended, only Russell, Jim McD and myself were from the regular "Jazz Community" - the others being L and P members who probably turn out to support whatever event is being held.
Well, this was the missing jazzers' loss as, not only was the music great but pint bottles of Wylam Ale were only £2.50!
An 8 piece bebop band and beer at £2.50? Roll over Dizzy tell Bird the news.
Lance.
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