(Review by Russell (AKA Tolstoy).
Noon in the marquee. The bar open
(White Boar Bitter), the Tyne Valley Big
Band, all six million of them, on stage ready to go but not before Jazz in
My Pants marched in to once more give it a blast. Fantastic. Dave Hignett, the TVBB’s MD, has knocked into shape a cracking band in next to no
time. Resplendent in band t-shirts and matching music stands (all six million
of them) the orchestra presented a programme ranging from Sweet Georgia Brown to Sway
and Mack the Knife (featuring
vocalist Barbra Hignett) to Sammy Nestico’s Lonely
Street (alto solo from Kelly Rose)
to the Pink Panther Theme (hear that triangle!). Our expert triangularist
marched New Orleans ’
style around the marquee, taking the opportunity on the way to order a pint
from the bar at the back of the room without missing a beat! At this point it
should be noted that the TVBB enjoys
a ‘working relationship’ with the Wylam Brewery but on this occasion it was a
case of ‘needs must’. Alistair Lord
played the high register stuff in the trumpet section, Andrea DeVere took the big tenor parts and singer Barbra Hignett
returned to belt out R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Respect to BH! The TVBB left us with a cookin’ Apple Honey (DeVere solo, rhythm
section, ensemble). If anyone had been in a Sunday morning stupour they would
certainly have been woken up by the Tyne
Valley Big Band.
Festival workers swarmed all over
the stage to clear away the big band furniture and set up ready for one of the
bands of the moment. The Slowlight
Quartet writes and performs original material. Double bassist Ian Paterson’s precise articulation
acted as pivot for Tom Quilliams’ towering
tenor sax contributions working off the subtle harmonic invention of keyboards
man Paul Lorraine. Drummer Jonathan Marriott, a listening drummer,
had his ears open to every development, playing the right thing at the right
time. The compositions have a discernible Slowlight signature; measured
development, unexpected changes, Quilliams’ slow burn, sulphuric attack. The
band previewed material from their forthcoming EP including the eponymous In Flight and This Time. An excellent set from the Slowlights, the launch gig is
at the Star and Shadow Cinema,
Russell.
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