Eddie Bellis (trombone), Paul Gowland (tenor
saxophone), Alan Marshall (alto saxophone), Kevin Eland (trumpet &
flugelhorn), Bradley Johnston (guitar), Roy Willis (guitar), Paul Grainger
(double bass) & Paul Wight (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Eddie Bellis’ eight piece band gigs infrequently, band
members are forever juggling other gigs. The Jazz Café offered a date well in
advance and on a sultry summer evening Bellis and co played two sets to an
enthusiastic gathering. Doors and windows open, the bar too, drummer Paul Wight
brushed a path for a classy Blues Walk.
No matter how often a well known tune is heard, if it’s played lovingly, with
commitment, then you’re at a good gig.
Lickety Split are all about good gigs. The material is
key, as are the musicians. A number of changes in personnel over the years, the
current line-up is, perhaps, as good as anyone, not least bandleader Bellis,
could wish for. One dep on the night – Paul Grainger in for a touring Alan Rudd
– and one couldn’t see the joins. Bassist Grainger read the parts (most of them
familiar numbers), the most reliable of deputies. An arrangement of Monk’s Well You Needn’t, then 88 Basin Street at a no-hurry Freddie
Greene (Roy Willis) lick took the honours with Bellis leading a round of solos;
Paul Gowland on tenor and frontline partner Alan Marshall (alto) and the seated
six-string phenomenon Bradley Johnston.
Maynard Ferguson, aka Kevin Eland, kept himself in
check, teasing out a cluster of notes on Doxy,
before handing on the baton to a bopping Johnston. Great playing all round. The
band grabbed an interval beer, the audience likewise. Good to note one or two
new faces, younger faces at that. How did they find about the gig? They’ll be
back.
This being summertime, drummer Paul Wight opted for a
‘tailored’ pair of shorts. No one said anything. Wight decided to get his
retaliation in first drawing attention to his fashion statement. Bellis said: I
hadn’t noticed, but as you’ve mentioned it…
The band’s bop to West Coast sound offers endless
possibilities; Bags Groove was one of
them with altoist Marshall, then a muted Eland knocking out cracking solos.
Johnston got the nod from Bellis to take a solo. Well, this was meat and drink
to BJ, he was all over it (owing something to a certain JB)! Bellis usually
gravitates to cool school Miles and this Jazz Café set did just that. The Birth of the Cool interspersed with
other choice cuts saw out the session; What’s
New? Joyspring (Paul Grainger
enjoying himself), All Blues (Gowland
went off on one, touching down with a text book landing), Move, Rouge and Four.
They thought they were done. Not so fast…Encore!
Encore!
Lickety Split is a cracking band. Easy going guys…not
so easy to pin down to a gig date! So, any promoter keen to offer them a gig,
don’t hesitate. Email Bebop Spoken Here and we’ll put you in touch with the
band. Lickety Split can be heard again at Bonbar (known to all as the Old
Assembly Rooms) in Newcastle on Sunday 30 August.
Russell.
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