Mark Williams (gtr); Andy Champion (bs); Adrian Tilbrook (dms).(Review by Lance/photo courtesy of Ken Drew).
If ever the term Supergroup was to be applied to a North East (or anywhere) jazz combo then there can be few more deserving of the title than tonight's triumvirate of talent - truly the Cream of the crop "flailing" under a flag of convenience - Leash. Possibly because they've been let "off the leash" by the various other bands they are associated with - AVC, Zoe Gilby, Shiver etc.
The emphasis was placed on Standards but not your GASbook, Cole Porter, Gershwin standards but classics from the mighty minds of Monk, Rollins, Shorter, Ornette, Eddie Harris et al. The only Gasser being a nod towards Vermont on a Moonlit Night.
The arrangements, interpretations, call them what you will, injected a new lease of life into these classics without detracting from the originals. On drums, Adrian, the archetypal pro, cool and sensitive or driving and dynamic but always sympathetic to his surroundings switching effortlessly from sticks to brushes to mallets as the music demanded. Mark, the benchmark for guitarists everywhere, and Andy - he does everything possible on a double bass except put it under his chin - maestro!
From which you might gather, this was an ace gig.It also occurred to me that whilst you're voting for Bebop Spoken Here in the APPJA's Media section, any of the above three are worth considering in the Instrumentalist category and Splinter or JNE are surely deserving of a shout in the Venue slot.
Cast your vote here - http://www.jazzservices.org.uk/index.php/parliamentary-jazz-awards.
Lance.
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