Eddie Bellis (trombone), John Hudson (tenor saxophone), Alan Marshall (alto saxophone), Kevin Eland (trumpet & flugelhorn), Roy Willis (guitar), Bill Brittain (keyboards), Alan Rudd (electric bass) & Paul Wight (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Eddie Bellis’ Lickety Split began by playing to the faithful few at the Star Inn on Westgate Road in Newcastle. It was oppressively hot and a big ‘do’ just up the road at the Discovery Museum hit audience numbers. No matter, Bellis’ classy outfit played for the few and, no doubt, their own enjoyment. The tunes choice, the ensemble work first rate, the soloists polished, any jazz fan walking in off the street couldn’t fail to be impressed.
Joyspring, So What? – quality material, so good a couple of Star non-jazz regulars got up to dance! Then the cavalry arrived. The big band gig up the road finished (two hundred in attendance) and those still standing rolled into the Star for some more jazz. Lift Off, led- off by bandleader Bellis, upped the ante, Doxy, Well, You Needn’t (frontline solos), What’s New?, the choice tunes just kept coming. Drummer Paul Wight’s brushwork on Bolivia took the honours on the night as Alan Marshall (alto) and Kevin Eland (flugelhorn) crafted solos and Roy Willis’ chords briefly came to the fore. All too soon the final number – On Green Dolphin Street – concluded another winning set from Lickety Split.
Russell.
No comments :
Post a Comment