(Review by Lance).
Steve T reported that Friday's lunchtime gig at the Gala in Durham by Gerry's Quartet had a less than capacity audience and I have to report that such was the case at Hoochie on Sunday. To entice the punters off the sun-drenched streets of Newcastle into the air conditioned luxury of Hoochie Coochie, owner Warren dropped the advertised fiver and made it free entry.
It helped although why a fiver would make a difference between going and not going to see a band of this calibre is beyond me!
Reading Steve's review of the quartet gig much of his comments would apply here - a similar set list with powerhouse Hammond, blues-rocking guitar, wailing alto and punchy drumming. However, multiply 4 by 2.25 and you have all of the above plus two trumpets, one trombone, one baritone doubling flute and one tenor doubling soprano - what a sound!
Gerry described one of the early numbers as "A TV cop show type soundtrack". A good description although it wasn't Dixon of Dock Green! Not after Rod Sinclair's blast. Chris Hibbard, one of two deps, soloed on Ska Odyssey and Big Jazz Club in the Sky - vocal by Gerry.
African Sunset had Paul Smith sending messages whilst Dave Hignett hit the heights on flugel horn.
Turnaround Shuffle featured the other dep, Jamie Toms on tenor, Garry Linsley on alto, Rod, Gerry and Sue. All fantastic solos but, if we'd had a Clapometer, such as they used to have on Opportunity Knocks, then Sue's bari solo would have been the outright winner.
Dixon of Dock Green, Opportunity Knocks - how old is this guy I hear you ask?
More numbers followed including one that Gerry described as having a Drum 'n ' Bass intro. It could be described as cacophony, free improv, or atonal, depending on your point of view. However, it eventually settled into a nice groove that hit the spot. Sue on flute and Jamie on soprano took the honours.
By this time I was getting writer's cramp, not having Steve T's stamina, so I committed the rest to my London Pride fuelled brain.
There was a samba that cried out for the dance floor to be activated, a trumpet chase by Hignett and Webb and finally, Night Train with solos all round. A fitting end to a superb early evening gig enabling me to get home and to catch up with the Tour de France. If they had yellow jerseys in jazz all of these players would be in contention.
Photos.
Lance
Photos.
Lance
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