(Review by Russell)
Members of Newcastle University
Symphony Orchestra opened the one hour show with the first two movements of
Ravel’s Le Tombeau. Folk singer
Rachel Hamer (a future star) sang two numbers and then there were the jazz
music students…
Joe Cromey-Hawke performed Steve
Gadd’s famed 1984 Zildjian drum clinic demo. JCH had his eyes fixed firmly on
the dots (zillions of them!) as the King’s Hall fell silent. An epic journey
(seven minutes or so), Cromey-Hawke can play. Let’s hope he shows up at the
Jazz Cafe’s jam session sometime soon.
The afternoon drew to a close on a
chilled vibe. Final year pianist Jamie Lawson worked alongside Ed Addo (trumpet
and vocals) on two numbers – When Sunny
Gets Blue (Addo without a mic) and Just the Two of Us (Addo with mic, the
dynamics so much better). Addo has a Hoochie Coochie soul voice and he too will
hopefully make it to the Jazz Café. The prospect of Addo and Joe Fowler singing
together whets the appetite! The duo gave us a third and final number – Addo’s I Love – and were joined by beat box
drummer Dan Egdell. The Jazz Café awaits.
Leaving the King’s Hall,
wandering down Northumberland
Street , the sound of the all-weather busking
electric bass player Ojay added to the afternoon’s entertainment. Further down
the road a lone alto sax player (with kitsch backing tapes) made a fist of it
on Lullaby of Birdland only to be
rudely interrupted by an all-singing-all-dancing (of sorts) Hari Krishna troupe
as they rounded the corner. You couldn’t make it up! Our altoist wasn’t to be deterred moving into
overdrive on the Headhunters’ Chameleon.
The happy-clappy troupe admitted defeat and moved on. Meanwhile, around the
corner at Grey’s Monument…Leonard (clarinet) and Florin
(trumpet), aided/hindered by yet more kitsch backing were giving it some on a Balkan
inspired cha cha cha number. Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of Newcastle ’s live music
scene!
Russell.
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