Gerry Richardson (Hammond SK2/vcl); Rod Sinclair (gtr); Dave Hignett, Gordon Marshall (tpt/flug); David Gray (tmb); (Garry Linsley (alt); Stuart Johnson (sop/ten); Sue Ferris (bar/fl); Adam Sinclair (dms).
(Review by Lance/photos courtesy of Mike Tilley).
A Big Idea gig is always a rollercoaster ride. The tunes, in the main, are familiar to the band's faithful following, the solos aren't. The quest to develop previous ideas ever present. Even with a dep drummer (an A-lister himself) this session never flagged. Indeed, Adam Sinclair had had a mere half hour to familiarise himself with the pad - it didn't show!
This was one of those gigs where everyone came to the party. Rod Sinclair - Adam's uncle - demonstrated just how versatile the Fender Tele is with some sizzling solos.
On trombone, David Gray brings an earthiness to his playing that transcends genres whilst the three saxes, despite being relegated to the backline, never failed to shine. Sue on baritone and flute, Stuart on tenor and soprano, Garry on alto were nothing less than awesome! Dave Hignett doesn't believe that the sky's the limit - for Dave it's the starting point. Mars, I'm heading your way!
On trombone, David Gray brings an earthiness to his playing that transcends genres whilst the three saxes, despite being relegated to the backline, never failed to shine. Sue on baritone and flute, Stuart on tenor and soprano, Garry on alto were nothing less than awesome! Dave Hignett doesn't believe that the sky's the limit - for Dave it's the starting point. Mars, I'm heading your way!
Fellow trumpet man Gordon Marshall also chipped in with a couple of good solos - he should do it more often.
Then there was Gerry. Composer, arranger, singer, and Hammond operator extraordinaire! Using the portable SK2 the sounds were, to my ears, comparable with the 10 roadies required B3 model. This was a gig that had the audience standing up and demanding more which they got with that good old warhorse Night Train.
Program: Stone Church; Blues For Big Red; Ska Odyssey; Big Jazz Club in the Sky; African Sunset; Turnaround Shuffle; Lady Day and John Coltrane; Take the Tee Train; It's Grim up North;I Think I'll Lay Waste to Myself Tonight; All About McGriff; Samba to Phrygia; Night Train.
Lance.
4 comments :
It was a fab night - the band were on fire, all of them! Top class ....... just a pity we had to slip out the door before the encore!
Good time had by all. Thank you x
oh my! wish I'd been there!
Isn't Sue Ferris wonderful. The word had obviously got around that it was a lady playing the baritone solo and all the ladies in the house were clamouring to get a view - go on sister. Lance and I joked with her later that we were going to buy her a bass clarinet and a box to stand on. And what a lovely girl, so concerned that I lost £50, since found in a secret compartment of my wallet that obviously wasn't a secret to my automatic reflexes.
Incidentally, Gil Scott Heron, who wrote and recorded 'Lady Day and Trane' had a long term music collaborator - Brian Jackson on Flute - he introduces him on the live 'Bottle' and she did it proud.
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