(Review by Russell)
Jambone, Sage Gateshead’s youth jazz ensemble performed in concert in a church setting on Friday evening. St James’ and St Basil’s in Fenham, Newcastle welcomed an audience of family, friends and supporters of the band on a rain-swept night. Wine and nibbles and, perhaps surprisingly, an above-freezing venue augured well.
Jambone’s Musical Director, Dr Paul Edis played an introductory solo composition at his well-travelled keyboard. The church piano stood idly by – perhaps it wasn’t up to scratch. Montage (comp P. Edis) focused the collective mind of the congregation. The Jamboners were champing at the bit and a couple of them stepped forward to join Edis to play on the evergreen On Green Dolphin Street.
Edis introduced the Ben Lawrence Trio. The pianist, B. Lawrence, the same B Lawrence, trumpet, of the hothouse Early Bird workshop band, played three tunes in the company of Alex Shipsey, bass and Dylan Thompson, drums. A bop anthem for starters – Anthropology – gave the trio the opportunity to show what they could do. The echoing acoustics, not the best, Thompson sensibly chose to use brushes for much of the evening. The waltz-time Someday My Price Will Come is a challenging tune for the more experienced musician and it is to the credit of the young trio that they gave a good account of themselves. Lawrence’s intro to the third and final number – Beatrice – caught the ear, and it was Edis who subsequently informed the audience that we had been listening to Robert Glasper’s 7/8 arrangement. Well done, lads!
Following a short interval the full band assembled on stage. In recent times Jambone has experienced administrative difficulties but under Edis’ guidance, the ensemble is now able to boast a full complement in all sections. Indeed, the band’s rhythm section featured not one but two drummers as Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich sat at the back ready to engage in friendly battle. The Coast (comp P.Edis) introduced the band’s two flautists – Ms Megan Robinson and Ms Imogen Davies-Pugh – with further solo contributions from another of the Early Birds, pianist Philip Grobe, and the impressive guitarist, Matthew Downey.
Edis wanted to play something Christmassy…if you must (bah humbug!). Well, what do you know? Something akin to Thomas Tallis’ Forty Part Motet revealed colourful, and, at times, wonderful, near-dissonant, voicings. 3/4 but not 3/4 did what it said on the tin. Enjoyment is key, and band members were clearly enjoying themselves, exemplified by the always smiling Alex Shipsey, bass. The penultimate number of the evening featured altoist Alex Thompson. Standing out front, Alex played When All is Said and Done. One astute listener remarked: He’s got a great tone.
To close the concert, TS Monk (a religious calling for some!) with Edis’ arrangement of the great man’s Bright Mississippi. Jambone is going from strength to strength. Soloists pepper the sections – the aforementioned flautists, Nick Caughey (returning from a first term at university to play the gig), trumpet-player Lucien Guest alongside the versatile Lawrence and another Early Bird talent, James Metcalf. Oh, yes…Krupa and Rich, aka Rory Gardener and Dylan Thompson! The band gigs regularly. Hear them at HQ (Sage Gateshead, December 10) with further prestigious gigs in the book in 2017.
Jambone: saxophone: Nicholas Caughey, Ryan De Silva, Henry Schmid, Ella Talbot; flute: Megan Robinson, Imogen Davies-Pugh; trumpet: James Metcalf, Ben Lawrence, Lucien Guest; trombone: Darcy Whyatt, Kate Garnett; piano: Phillip Grobe; guitar: Matthew Downey; bass: Alex Shipsey; drums & percussion: Rory Gardener, Dylan Thompson
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