GIJF: Day Three: Youth Jazz Afternoon: Stretch Trio; Jambone with Rick Taylor

Stretch Trio: Calvin Travers (guitar) Simon ? (drums), ? (tenor sax, Ewi). (Andy French? Tom Higham?)

(Review by Ann Alex/Photo from band's F/b page)).

Sorry about the names I didn’t catch, but this whole concert was an absolute joy, with free tickets as well, and I would willingly have paid.  Stretch Trio, from Yorkshire, were handpicked by ‘Jazz North Introduces’ which gives young Northern jazz artists their first high profile performance. The trio were straight in with sax leading, a pleasing ethereal sound, then riffs and chops, a fresh modern approach to jazz, sax and guitar duetting, alternating, music speeding up towards the end of the piece.  

Next came Solstice, a tune with a more spaced out feel, using some sort of looped electronics, but as appropriate.  The Ewi made an appearance, the Electronic Wind Instrument, to give it its full title. This looks like a shiny melodica and sounds as you’d expect from the title. It reflected the coloured stage lights as it was played, so looked attractive as well.  Next, something a bit more traditional, a standard start with a drum solo, and references to the song Softly As In A Morning Sunrise.  The set ended with Hectic Metric, a full throttled sound and lots of chock, chock sounds from percussion.  There were murmurs of appreciation from the audience, so I think we’ll be hearing more of this young band.

Jambone; The Time Machine: led by Rick Taylor (trombone)

We were prepared for the high standards that we’ve come to expect from Jambone, Sage Gateshead’s youth jazz ensemble, but I for one wasn’t prepared for the hilarious presentation methods of Rick Taylor, a local jazz musician who has been away from the area for some time.  The Time Machine is the result of a long workshop that Rick did with the band, which is based on key jazz and swing composers and arrangers.  He explained, with down to earth honesty, that the workshop was long so they’d cut down the performance to the minimum, then proceeded to vigorously conduct  what sounded, for all the world, like a chaotic drunken version of New Orleans jazz.  Then we were straight into danceable swing, led by Rick’s wonderful trombone, encouraging the many soloists in the band, saxes, trumpet, drums.  The piece was in sections to illustrate trends, such as West Coast Style with a skilled baritone sax solo, then a lively mid 50’s tune counterbalanced by smooth tones.  The third movement illustrated Duke Ellington, with a very deliberately piercing muted trumpet, which Rick assured us was authentic for the time.  Stan Kenton entered the scene, then more West Coast with a chance for guitar and piano to solo.  The final piece (sorry can’t remember the influence) reminded me of the soundtrack to many a 1950’s cowboy film. I imagine the band must have had good fun during the workshop, with much encouragement to give of their best, which they did in this performance.

Ann Alex