Alan Silva (synthesizer) & Roger Turner (drums) @ The Bridge Hotel, Newcastle September 14

(Review by Russell).

Jazz North East’s On the Outside programme resumed after a short summer break with veteran American free jazz musician Alan Silva working with first-call British drummer Roger Turner at the Bridge Hotel in Newcastle. The upstairs room of the John Fitzgerald hostelry has become a favourite of free players and audience alike.

Silva, long-time resident in France, made his name as a bass player with legendary figures such as Albert Ayler and Cecil Taylor before abandoning the instrument in favour of the synthesizer.

The duo of Sean Noonan (drums) and Matthew Bourne (keyboards) played the same room earlier this year and Noonan promised ‘bouts’ of improv during their performance. Well, Silva’s insistent staccato figures ensured that we were in for a punishing session of free jazz sustained across two sets. A knockout performance failed to floor Turner, indeed he thrived on the challenge and gave as good as he got with a brilliant display at the kit. Musicians master the language of free playing to varying degrees, Turner has long since passed with first class honours. Turner possesses flawless technique and drummers across the north east should have been present to compare notes and bend the ear of the amiable Turner. Sadly they were elsewhere – their loss.

The next On the Outside gig is at the Cluny – Tuesday 25 September – featuring Ken Vandermark (reeds) with the British bass and drums team of Olie Brice and Mark Sanders. If Vandermark can be bothered to travel from Chicago then surely a few Tyneside based musicians can make the effort to get down to the Ouseburn. The concert is to be a joint promotion between Jazz North East and Schmazz – a sign of things to come.

Russell