Dropping Bombs @ Sage Gateshead June 28.

James Harrison (pno/Hammonds); Ian Simpson (gtr); James Robson (bs); Dave Donnelly (dms); Belinda Voshtina (vcl); Ray Dales (alt).

(Review by Lance, photo by Elaine Harrison)

Dropping Bombs continue to explode - can anyone tell me how long it is since such a young north east band could play with such feeling and respect  for the music that is the backbone of modern jazz?

The material is unbeatable - Sonny Rollins' St. Thomas lays waste to most of the 'originals' that roll off the conveyer belt. The secret? - its simplicity! Ray Dales took it to the Caribbean and back via 52nd St.and made it sound as if it were written yesterday! James Harrison and Ian Simpson kicked it along beautifully and Dave Donnelly knocked seven shades out of the kit.

These kids (exclude Ray from 'kids' although he is still one at heart) know where they're going and even if it is down Route 66 it's still better than the A1(M).. I don't know why some people knock standards, the  Gasbook is the greatest collection of music ever written and, idiom wise, comparable with the best of European classical music.

There were gems galore tonight - Ray Dales playing Just Friends, Now's The Time, Belinda singing Why Don't You Do Right? Slower than Peggy but just as effective. Moondance, Frim Fram Sauce and Every Day I Have the Blues showed her off to great advantage. Harrison laid down some funky Hammond grooves on this one

Take the A Train had Ray swinging like Bird and the two James, Ian and Dave travelled along in the First Class carriage.

From the bowels of the concourse musicians emerged carrying instrument cases - they'd obviously been rehearsing - yet not one of them stopped to listen to what was going on on stage.

It was their loss.

Two people who did appreciate the music were a couple of swing dancers moving in perfect synchronization to the music. Later when the tempo slowed for Lover Man the dancing became elegant and graceful - well as elegant and graceful as you can be wearing jeans and trainers!

Move It On featured some intriguing interplay between the Hammond and guitar and James Robson gave further evidence of his jazz chops. Then, just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water, Belinda sang Summertime. In her defence, she sang it better than most. St James Infirmary Blues showed that these young guys have an eye on the past as well as the future which in my eyes is commendable.

It was a splendid evening (free) and I'm grateful to Elaine and Terry for supplying the photos taken under impossible lighting conditions.

Lance.