ACV @ Darlington Jazz Festival Sunday April 27.

(This piece by Russell was accidentally omitted from the Tolstoyan review of last month's Darlington Festival - my fault, Lance.)

The contemporary theme continued with the arrival of ACV. Touring nationally, Andy Champion’s quintet hit the ground running as they charged, two at a time, up Dog Leap Stairs. A local Newcastle landmark, the stone steps - Dog Leap Stairs - link two of the band’s favourite watering holes - the Crown Posada and the Bridge Hotel. Try walking up the stairs sometime - half way up you could find yourself out of breath. Not these boys, they’re super human jazz players, trained to within an inch, they were in the Bridge in no time eyeing up the brews. 

The Consett Brewery a possibility but more of that later. Reeds maestro Graeme Wilson (tenor and baritone saxophones) chose Sturdy and Mark Williams’ Fender Strat ripped into it. Drummer Adrian Tilbrook warmed up for his forthcoming master class with some sparkling playing on What’s For Breakfast? (big playing on this one). So to Consett. One of the many excellent beers from the micro brewery - Red Dust - inspired composer A.Champion to pen Dust Red. A ballad, remembering the Consett of a generation ago, a brief respite in a super-charged set. Mr Tilbrook’s  master class closed the set. The tune? Without Bones. Sit back, fasten your safety belts and enjoy your journey. More supersonic flight than steam driven train, hearing Without Bones is, quite simply, one of the great gig-going experiences. All five played their proverbials off including the (temporarily) demented Paul Edis (keyboards). Phew! Where’s the beer tent? Oh, we’re in it! A pint of White Boar, please. 

Russell.