(Review by Russell/Photo courtesy of Mike Tilley)
George and Ira Gershwin, Kenny Barron and Tom Waits. The Jazz Café’s house rhythm section opened with Lady Be Good, Voyage and I Beg Your Pardon. A round of fours as good as they come on the opening number impressed the new student intake – they were listening to Young Gun drummer Matt McKellar. This is the standard, guys!
The first week of term, first and second-year music students based at Sage Gateshead got a taste of what lies ahead for them. The experienced musicians on the stand - pianist and MC Peter Gilligan and Paul Grainger, bass - know their stuff, confident of, and generous to our depping young drummer on the gig, so we heard Matt solo confidently on Voyage. The two PGs weren’t the only old hands around - PR, Paul Ruddick, blew a Baghdaddian alto on All of Me accompanying the keen participation of a local blues guitarist. A twelve bar followed before Ruddick cracked the whip to set a boisterous Caravan on its journey into the kasbahs and souks of Newcastle’s exotic West End.
Dr Edis led his new recruits onto the stand. Let’s see what you can do with Chameleon... and round and round they went. Bassist Adam is one to watch (hear), trumpeter Callum impressed (more, please), then there was Lucy on alto, Kieren playing guitar and Chris, drums. Here’s the deal guys…turn up regularly!!! Pianist Edis stayed on for a waltz with John Pope and the imperturbable MM behind the traps.
A third PG, Mr Paul Gowland, playing soprano sax, traded first-rate solos with an on fire Michael Lamb, trumpet (fresh from another storming Strictly Smokin’ gig up the road at Hoochie Coochie) on some tasty Bird.
Two trumpeters in the house tonight! What’s that about waiting an age for the no.39 bus, then two come along at the same time? Michael the champ, Callum a contender.
A favourite vocalist walked in. Comes Love and Agua de Beber sung, first in English then Portuguese, by Belinda Voshtina. Backed by Pete, Paul and Matt, Belinda sang better than ever. A rare treat, come back soon Belinda. A second tranche of Sage students opted for a typically quirky time signature in tackling Take Five. Brad, guitar, Luke, guitar, and bass player Jordan were indebted to ‘5/4’ Matt’s steadying influence.
Peter Gilligan took Seven Steps to Heaven to new heights, and, for the record, Edgar Bell, unamplified, sitting to one side, unobtrusively knocked out the chords a la Freddie Green and stayed on with Gowland for a tour de force Now’s the Time. To close another varied session, we heard a seasonal Autumn in New York/Newcastle.
A busy night, on and off the stand. Note to all music students…make the Jazz Café’s jam session (first and third Tuesdays in the month) your second home.
Russell.
Peter Gilligan (piano), Paul Grainger (double bass) & Matthew McKellar (drums) + Paul Ruddick (alto saxophone), Paul Gowland (soprano saxophone), Michael Lamb (trumpet), Edgar Bell (acoustic guitar), John Pope (double bass), Belinda Voshtina (vocals) + Paul Edis (piano) & the BMus All Stars: Callum (trumpet), Lucy (soprano saxophone), Kieren (guitar), Adam (bass), Chris (drums), Brad (guitar), Luke (guitar) & Jordan (bass)
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