GIJF – Day One Djangologie - April 4.

Mick Shoulder (double bass), Emma Fisk (violin), James Birkett (guitar) & Giles Strong (guitar)

(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew.)

At Sage Gateshead moving from one hall to another often presents a dilemma as there is invariably music on the concourse and the impulse is to stop and listen. On the opening night off this year’s festival the late night session on the concourse featured none other than Djangologie. Mick Shoulder’s Hot Club quartet played a first set to an appreciative crowd of three or four hundred transient souls. On this occasion many appeared to be astonished. Who’s this? There fantastic! A scheduled review of a concert in one of the adjacent halls abandoned, the concourse was the place to be.

Second set, audience numbers had diminished due to the competing attractions (Hall Two, the Jazz Lounge, the Jazz Cafés Late Night Club) yet those who stayed on had no regrets. Minor Swing, Nuages and more. A couple stopped, sat at a vacant table and were duly astonished, Clearly they hadn’t previously heard the quartet. The principal soloists – Emma Fisk (violin) and James Birkett (guitar) – crafted impeccable solos, making it look easy. To them it probably is. To this listening audience (our visiting couple included) – Wow! Concourse or concert platform? Does it matter? Perhaps not, the important thing is to catch Djangologie next time, wherever that be.

Bassist Shoulder composes in ‘the tradition’ and one such example – a tail of unrequited love – Beautiful Till 3 stands alongside classic Hot Club material. Shoulder’s engine room mate Giles Strong (rhythm guitar) dropped anchor with his customary faultless display. Festivals by their nature – so much/too much to hear – create highs and lows. Djangologie on the concourse scored highly – ten out of ten, no less.    

Russell