John Warren (cond./comp./arr.); Julian Siegel (clt/sop/ten/cont bs clt); Graham Hardy, Sean Eland, John Dunn, Greg Nicholas (tpts); Chris Hibbard, Alex Leathard, Kieran Parnaby, Eddie Bellis (tmb); Rod Mason, Andy Bennett, Graeme Wilson, Sue Ferris, Niall Armstrong (reeds); Stu Collingwood (pno); Mark Williams (gtr); Andy Champion (bs/bs gtr); Adrian Tilbrook (dms).
(Review by Lance.)
(Review by Lance.)
Friday, I vote for the VOTNJO in the Big Band section of the British Jazz Awards, Sunday, the grim reality that this was to be their final concert - at least under John Warren - sinks in. So perhaps we should all vote for them in appreciation of what they have achieved over the past 15/16 years.
The music is complex - a jazz version of say Berlioz' Symphonie Fantastique - but it's also accessible to all but the most tunnelled visionaires.
After a few words from Paul Bream of co-promoters JNE, John Warren introduces the evening's guest, Julian Siegel, and the band, already under starters orders are off and into The New One Two. A Warren composition originally written for the John Surman Brass Project.
It's a dissonant, almost atonal, piece that features Siegel on soprano, Dunn on trumpet and Wilson on tenor. There's also a relaxed, out of tempo, interlude spotlighting bass and drums. An auspicious start that takes up 15 minutes, maybe more, of the first set which is about par.
Wise Child, by Siegel, is dedicated to Wayne Shorter and the composer plays some quite heroic tenor. Bennett, Williams also have a bite at the cherry before a Tilbrook drum excursion brings the piece to it's logical conclusion.
Monk's Ruby My Dear - a Warren arrangement - features Collingwood's sensitive introduction and sets the sultry mood. The sax section's co-ordination impresses and for a while the band is actually swinging.
The Missing Link - the two Grahams (well Graeme and Graham actually) are both heard to advantage in a piece as quirky as the title.
The set closes with a latin based number the title of which escapes me - more excellent work by Collingwood.
After adjourning to the bar and doing the social circuit it was back to business. This band really is incredible, handling some of the most intricate parts ever scored with apparent ease. The sections gel even though they are often seemingly in conflict albeit carefully contrived conflict which isn't conflict at all!
Mark Williams does some guitar shredding with such intensity it's a wonder the lights don't dim whilst on Aliteration Addict Niall Armstrong takes a giant step forward out of the section for a baritone solo that could arguably be put forward as the best blast of the night.
De Je Vu has Siegel doing some delicate work on Contra Bass Clarinet in tandem with one of the trombones.
As we approach the home straight Rod Mason does some paint-stripping and Sue Ferris, that most lyrical lady, adds the gloss.
It's been quite a night tinged with the sad thought we may ne'er see their like again..
I'm pleased the VOTNJO drew a reasonable crowd - a band this size could quite easily have outnumbered the audience! fortunately this wasn't the case unlike in the Central Bar where I called in for a pre number 27 (bus) pint. Here the bar staff did out number the customers - all three of us!
Lance.
PS: If you decide to vote for the band in the awards click here.
As we approach the home straight Rod Mason does some paint-stripping and Sue Ferris, that most lyrical lady, adds the gloss.
It's been quite a night tinged with the sad thought we may ne'er see their like again..
I'm pleased the VOTNJO drew a reasonable crowd - a band this size could quite easily have outnumbered the audience! fortunately this wasn't the case unlike in the Central Bar where I called in for a pre number 27 (bus) pint. Here the bar staff did out number the customers - all three of us!
Lance.
PS: If you decide to vote for the band in the awards click here.
1 comment :
This was the first (and I hope not the last) time I had been to a VOTNJO gig.
Paul Bream says they're good. Lance Liddle says they're good. But neither had prepared me for the intense joy of their complex sensitive repetoire. Fabulous arrangements, superb musicianship.
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