Corrie Dick (drums); Joe Wright (saxophones); Laura Jurd (trumpet); Joe Webb (organ); Matt Robinson (keyboards); Conor Chaplin (bass); Alice Zawadzki (violin & voice); Felix Higginbottom (percussion)
(Review by Steve H/Photo courtesy of Ken Drew).
This was a joy from start to finish as Corrie Dick’s Impossible Things tour landed in Newcastle on Sunday night. The genre is impossible to categorise containing elements of modern jazz, Irish folk, calypso, African and even big top circus music. Several of the tunes, for example, Annamarrakech & Farewell Modhachaidh contained a combination of these styles. This inventive blend certainly contributed to the uniqueness and entertainment of the evening.
An evening that began with Soar, an upbeat number with spoken poetry from Zawadzki. I wasn’t sure if the next song was meant to make one laugh or cry as What Became of Albert was a lament about the death of a pet tortoise. All the tunes, bar one, Mosaic were from the Impossible Things album. This was also the only non-vocal track of the evening (because the lyrics had yet to be written) and was actually my favourite of the first set.
The octet really seemed to be enjoying themselves on stage. Particularly appealing were the occasions when the entire band broke into backing vocals. The double keyboard engine room of Joe Webb and Matt Robinson set a great vibe and Conor Chaplin’s bass playing is always a treat. Laura Jurd was as ever superb as was Joe Wright, who produced a mesmeric solo towards the end of the night on Lock Your Heart. The title track of the album 6 impossible things is taken from Lewis Carroll’s Alice through the Looking Glass and the band’s very own Alice took the opportunity to showcase her incredible voice in this very evocative rendition of the literary classic. The varied percussion of Felix Higginbottom added depth to all proceedings. Band leader, composer, master drummer and MC Corrie Dick was a star throughout, his self-effacing dead pan sense of humour enabling him to engage with audience from the off.
A great evening of original contemporary jazz by a thoroughly charming band.
Steve H.
1 comment :
We knew Corrie to be an original voice in Jazz drumming from his Sage gig with Laura Jurd but he's a seriously unique writer too.
The final piece before the encore was like the Maggie Smith cliché of eight people playing different songs but the whole thing hung together brilliantly, mostly due to his drumming.
I tentatively suggested to ZGC the singer/reciter/wailer is a kindred spirit but she agreed enthusiastically, confirming they know each other.
Sat next to her, Graeme Wilson seemed spellbound by Laura Jurds' trumpet, which he'd specifically hung around to hear, forcefully leading rare applause on the night for one of her solos.
She gets better each time I hear her and is maturing into a really cool young lady too. This was the third time I've seen her in other peoples bands and suggested to one of them he had a real live superstar, but I don't think he knew what I was on about. I don't think any of them, including her, realise just how important she could become.
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