Lickety Split @ Blaydon Jazz Club - April 16

Eddie Bellis (trombone), Alan Marshall (alto saxophone), Paul Gowland (tenor saxophone), Kevin Eland (trumpet & flugelhorn), Bradley Johnston (guitar), Jeremy McMurray (piano), Alan Rudd (bass) & Paul Wight (drums)

(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Roly).

Band leader Eddie Bellis announced a celebration – Lickety Split’s tenth birthday! A few changes of personnel down the years is almost inevitable when trying to keep an eight piece band on the road. The current line-up looks as if it could remain stable for some time. That’s good news with the octet sounding better than ever.

 This Black Bull gig, the band’s debut at Blaydon Jazz Club, delivered immaculate ensemble playing with particularly impressive (well rehearsed!) endings. Nothing ragged, just sharp, tight topping and tailing of tunes. Lickety Split is a band that doesn’t shout from the roof tops. No hype, little publicity, simply a ‘turn-up-and-play’ approach, that’s Lickety Split. Blaydon Jazz Club’s Easter Day audience heard two sets of West Coast cool to bop charts – exactly what Blaydon’s Dr Jazz ordered.

Lickety Split’s frontline horns stood on the floor in front of the stage, a stage easily accommodating a purring rhythm section comprising Bradley Johnston in Freddie Greene mode, erstwhile Blaydon house pianist Jeremy McMurray, the seated bass anchor Alan Rudd, and the amiable Paul Wight, drums. Eddie Bellis, a fine, but underrated trombonist, isn’t big on announcements, preferring to let the music do the talking. The numbers given an airing included Birth of the Cool era Miles Davis, a well-tempered All Blues, Monk’s Well, You Needn’t and, perhaps, the band’s signature tune, Oliver Nelson’s Stolen Moments. Throughout the evening two of the band’s big hitters – Paul Gowland on tenor, and Kevin Eland playing trumpet and flugelhorn – showed admirable restraint, subservient to the ensemble sound.

Lickety Split’s next gig is at the Fox Inn, Hexham on Tuesday 25 April. Nine o’clock start, free, but donations appreciated. One week later the band will be at the Elephant public house on Newbiggin Road in Ashington to play a gig at the recently revived Ashington Jazz Club. Eight o’clock start, an absolute bargain £5.00. at the door, and an early finish (10:00pm) designed to allow gig goers the opportunity to catch buses to Morpeth, Newcastle and further afield.

Blaydon Jazz Club’s concert in May sees the return of Alter Ego. A bop, occasionally hard bop gig, with a cracking line-up, put the date in the diary – Sunday 21 May. Eight o’clock start, arrive early, seats could be at a premium.

Photos.

Russell