Up with the Larks @ The Lit & Phil. Dec 17

(Review by Russell).

The Early Birds were up and about at the crack of dawn today. Teenage musicians – on this occasion nine of them – met at the Lit & Phil on Westgate Road for another of their Saturday morning workshops under the tutelage of Paul Edis. An hour or so later it was time to admit the public for their regular half hour set.

But Not for Me for starters with a startlingly good alto solo by Ryan De Silva. Pianist Ben Lawrence, usually heard playing trumpet, brought along an as yet untitled number with a Latin feel to it. Trumpeter James Metcalf took a good look at it with an extended solo and drummer Matt McKellar took command of it to take it home.

A testing ballad for the Early Birds – Georgia – opened with Alex Thompson’s alto sax, De Silva made his mark, so too Andrew ‘Teagarden’ Hedges, trombone, and the engine-room guitarist Matthew Downey. Full marks! Thompson featured on the Dexter Gordon classic Cheese Cake with Metcalf and McKellar engaging in a bout of fours. A graduate of the Early Bird collective Dan Lawrence sat in on the final two numbers (young bassist Alex Shipsey sitting out having played excellently). Dan is home on leave from his first term at the Royal Northern College of Music. Dan and Alex are two rapidly developing talents. We heard Doxy featuring Alex Thompson and the impressive Ben Lawrence. As a depping piano player (Philipp Grobe was elsewhere) Ben cut the bop mustard. Brother Dan – shoeless but anything but clueless – soloed with aplomb. To close, a blues in F. A blues in any key, you can’t go far wrong. This being the season of goodwill and all that, a liberal sprinkling of tinsel-covered Christmas quotes were tossed around. Was it Downey who started it? No matter, it was all good fun. Note – Paul Edis brought along his shiny new toy. A tenor sax, no less. The man has been in the woodshed. Whatever next? Sitting in the saxophone section of one of the regions fine big bands? Stranger things have been known to happen. And, with Ben Lawrence doing the business at the keyboard, Dr Edis could well find himself looking for other opportunities! The Lit & Phil facilitated series of Early Bird workshops will resume in 2017. Details to be advised.               

Russell.

The Early Birds: James Metcalf (trumpet), Alex Thompson (alto sax), Ryan De Silva (alto sax), Andrew Hedges (trombone), Ben Lawrence (piano), Matthew Downey (guitar), Alex Shipsey (bass) & Matthew McKellar (drums), Dan Lawrence (bass) + Paul Edis (tenor sax)