(Review by Russell).
The Central Hall
in the Dolphin Centre has been described as a palais de danse. Built on civic pride, ornate chandeliers
illuminate the grand setting as concertgoers ascend the red carpeted staircase.
Function suite tables dressed in linen table cloths, flowers decorating a
candlelit scene. A posh ‘do’? Nothing of the sort, this was a big band session
Darlington-style!
All seats (265
of them) were sold. The Durham County Youth Big Band opened the show with a
Matt Roberts’ arrangement of Mercy!
Mercy! Mercy! The young musicians on the stage won applause for each and
every solo effort. An abundance of talented, enthusiastic musicians were heard
in all sections of the band. A Sammy Nestico arrangement of Satin Doll held no fears and a rousing St Louis Blues got the audience going.
The band played This Can’t Be Love a
matter of three weeks after seeing the parts for the first time at one of its
regular rehearsal nights. This public premiere on such an auspicious occasion
could have fallen apart but the Durham County Youth Big Band rose to the task
in fine style.
The Durham
County Alumni Big Band is the band to which many of the youthful players will
undoubtedly graduate. The senior band took to the stage in ‘black tie’ attire.
The two guest artists working with the band – Bruce Adams and Al Wood – were
similarly booted and suited. Al Wood, multi instrumentalist and life-long
educator put the band through its paces, expecting the best and that’s what he
got. So many highlights; Alex Baker on Lady
Day (magisterial), Neal Hefti’s Cute featuring
Stephen Fletcher’s fine brushwork, pianist
Dean ‘Basie’
Stockdale spot-on with All of Me and
Hank Mobley’s Funk in Deep Freeze putting
the rhythm section to work with Adams and Wood. Trumpeter Jonny Dunn made his
way down to the front of stage to give it a blast on Take the A Train. A blast!
Of course the
star guests stepped-up. A Marty Paich arrangement of Bernie’s Tune heard Al wood at his best on alto. Bruce Adams played
trumpet and flugelhorn. On the latter he impressed with a powerful solo on Black Orpheus and an exquisite Moonlight in Vermont in contrast to his
trumpet excursions. Now, these were something else! The decibel count rose on Once I Had a Secret Love (rattling the
chandeliers) and superb stratospheric work on At Last (metaphorically) brought the house down. Two numbers made
the night. First, trumpeter Matthew Robinson joined Adams
to play What’s New? Nerves of steel,
young Robinson did himself proud. Mr Adams shook hands with Mr. Robinson - that
says it all. Finally, trumpeter Tom Hill had the task of standing toe to toe
with Adams on Memoiries of You. Adams played
impossibly high stuff. Would the young man be able to respond? A heart-stopping
moment…then Hill nailed it! Adams , impressed,
shot for the stars. Could Hill do it again? You bet! The two of them went way
beyond the stars time and again. A handshake. You wouldn’t believe the applause.
For the first and only time during the evening Adams
spoke to the audience. He said the future of jazz was in safe hands with young
musicians of this calibre snapping at his heels. A grand night, grand
surroundings, Darlington Jazz Festival just gets better and better.
Russell.
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