(Review by Russell)
Newcastle Jazz Co-op extended an invitation to Dave
Weisser to relocate from the Chilli.
The Jazz Co-op’s house piano, drum kit and backline
made it an attractive offer. Weisser went for it, no looking back. The Globe on
Railway Street, home to Britain’s trailblazing jazz co-operative would, from
now on, host Dave Weisser’s weekly Take it to the Bridge workshop.
The rain relented and Weisser’s friends turned out in
force. The session began as a sextet – or was it a septet? – with All Blues and, two numbers in – There Will Never Be Another You – we were
listening to a nonet. The permutations on the stand were endless, sitters-in
and sitters-out. Thanks to the house piano, veteran pianist Barry Ascroft
sounded like the fine piano player we have always known him to be. Drummer
Norman Redhead played a familiar role – that of the unobtrusive engine room stalwart
book-ending the session with several stickmen taking spells, variously Michael
Howard, Young Gun Matt MacKellar and the Old Gunslinger Ian Forbes.
The frontline horns were led by Weisser and the
assured Ray Johnson. The altoists – Sue Bull and Rachel Richman – played their
part, jostling for position on the stand alongside tenor man Dougie Fielder
and, second set, Karen Rann (soprano). Duke Pearson’s Chant, some Bird and a Blue
Bossa with all lining up to take a solo made time fly.
Alan Law showed up, so too Ian Forbes. A Blue Monk nonet (Dave Parker enjoyed
being on this one) swung lazily – Law outstanding, Forbes dropping bombs right
on cue. Adam Sams (guitar) overcame an amp malfunction to play good stuff, the
ensemble excelled on Yesterdays and
again on the closing number of the night How
Insensitive. A word for the sound engineer, barman and tail-end tenor man
Jeff Smith.
The Beamish Mary, The Bridge Hotel, The Blue Bell, The
Chillingham Arms, The Globe – three Camra award-winning pubs, one picturesque
Ouseburn location, one a trailblazing jazz venue. Take it to the Bridge has
become an institution. From No Place* to the Globe, over twenty plus years Dave
Weisser just keeps on going. We expect nothing less.
Dave Weisser (trumpet & vocals), Ray Johnson
(trumpet & flugelhorn), Dougie Fielder (tenor saxophone), Jeff Smith (tenor
saxophone), Sue Bull (alto saxophone), Rachel Richman (alto saxophone), Karen
Rann (soprano saxophone), Adam Sams (guitar), Roy Stephenson (guitar), Barry
Ascroft (piano), Alan Law (piano), Dave Parker (double bass), Mike Clarke
(bass), Norman Redhead (drums), Michael Howard (drums), Matthew MacKellar
(drums), Ian Forbes (drums)
Russell.
* The Beamish Mary, No Place, Stanley, County Durham. No Place, it’s a place. It’s the
name of a place. Never mind.
3 comments :
I would just like to thank Russell and BSH for their fitting recognition of Dave's efforts over the past 20 years to provide an opportunity for musicians young and old and of all levels of ability to actively participate on the local jazz scene and to personally thank Dave on behalf of myself and the many others, some of whom are now at the top their game. After all, for me my musical career started and ended as a teenager and, some several decades later, I have gained the title of an 'unobtrusive engine room stalwart book-end drummer' may 'Take it to the Bridge' thrive in its new venue
Great new venue for this north east jazz institution. I would like to endorse Norman's comments above and hope that "Take it to the Bridge" continues to thrive.
Having worked with Dave in his early days in the UK, it's great to see that he has not lost his incredible enthusiasm for his music. He has an amazing natural untutored talent & a wonderful ear, much in the same vein as Chet Baker. I always considered Dave to be a superb vocalist, pitch perfect & extremely versatile & had he made his home in London rather than the "frozen north", I'm convinced that he could have been up there alongside the superstars like Ian Shaw. Although we went our different ways, I have never lost my respect for this talented guy. Keep on truckin Davie!
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