GIJF Day 3: Sulzmann/Iles Duo & Trish Clowes 'My Iris' Quartet - Sage Gateshead - April 2

Stan Sulzmann (tenor); Nikki Iles (piano).

(Review by Lance/Photos courtesy of Russell).

Some, but not all, of the material was from the duo's 2014 album Stardust and, like the album, made for a pleasurable listening experience albeit not an earth-moving one.

The musicianship was faultless. How could it not be with two such seasoned professionals?

Polished and polite - what else could you expect from a duo playing indoors on a sunny Sunday afternoon? Binker and Moses they weren't and I'm sure they'd probably never want to be either but I did miss bass and drums. Perhaps if the tenor had been miked up a bit more or it had been a late evening session in more intimate surrounds, who knows?

Nevertheless, and whilst it didn't totally float my boat, it didn't sink it either!

During the interval, holding a referendum with other members of the Jazz Constabulary, it came across as a 50/50 hung jury. Such is the appeal of jazz and music in general - it's in the ear of the beholder. 

Trish Clowes (tenor/soprano); Ross Stanley (Hammond/piano); Chris Montague (guitar); John Blease (drums).

The set that followed by the Trish Clowes 'My Iris' Quartet was very much an up-front in your face contrast to what had preceded. After a seemingly interminable, long sustained notes introduction on soprano, Clowes finally hit the deck and she was going for gold - the soprano was on fire and any snakes she may have charmed were burned alive. Switching to tenor, Professor Clowes - yes the gal is a Professor of Jazz and Improvisation at the Guildhall, like our policemen, our professors are getting younger - blew the cobwebs away. I wonder, was Binker ever one of her students? Electronic effects were used sparingly and didn't detract too much from the music.

On guitar, Gateshead lad Chris Montague returned to his hometown and showed them how it's done whilst, dep drummer John Blease sailed miraculously through the charts.

Ross Stanley is no stranger to the northeast and it's a rare travelling band that doesn't include Ross in the lineup. Tonight he switched from Hammond to Steinway and back again. Trish introduced one of the more balladic numbers as a chance to hear Ross on the Steinway and, to quote, he did treat it in a fine way!

All of the compositions, I think, were from Ms. Clowes current album - My Iris, reviewed by Russell back in January.

Lance.

Samples/buy.