Delius, Brice & Sanders @ The Bridge Hotel. Sept. 22

Tobias Delius (tenor saxophone & clarinet), Olie Brice (double bass) & Mark Sanders (drums)

(Review by Russell)

Jazz North East’s On the Outside strand of free jazz and improv gigs began its autumn season with a co-promotion with the Bridge Hotel’s resident jazz promoters Splinter @ the Bridge. Toby Delius was in town making a first appearance in the north east working with regular visitors Olie Brice (bass) and drummer Mark Sanders.

Standing under the stage lights, from a distance Delius bore a resemblance to the late Mel Smith and frantic body movements recalled the late, great Dr Feelgood vocalist Lee Brilleaux. His music, that of the improviser, focused on short, constantly changing phrases. Light of touch, breathing life into his tenor, then, in an instant, a barrage of short, rapid fire lines. The bass and drums pairing responded in a nano second to Delius’ every move. Olie Brice possesses a full, rounded sound and Mark Sanders’ trade mark clattering style (bells, gongs, blocks, the works) flitted in and out, filling the space vacated by the tenor man.

Delius is a singing tenor man – Roland Kirk style (gutteral cries, whistles, the whole body experience). Sweating buckets (three changes of shirt!), Delius gave it his all. The audience reciprocated, ‘giving it up’ for the man. On occasion a sense of swing was there not too far below the surface. It’s a fair bet that Delius could do Louis Jordan. The world of the improviser is indeed a mysterious one, there was much to be had from this performance, Delius is worth hearing again.

Next week – Sunday September 29 – Splinter @ the Bridge presents the Graeme Wilson Quartet. Highly recommended.        

Russell.