(Review by Russell).
Take it to the
Bridge is an institution. Dave Weisser’s weekly ‘workshop’ has been going since
the year dot. From time to time the
institution’s leader invites a band to come along and play a set. This week’s
guests were fulfilling a twice postponed appearance at the Jazz Co-op’s Globe HQ.
Lickety Split is
a no nonsense band. Turn up, play, job done. Band charts depleted due to a
thief’s keen ear for something of real value – yes, stolen notes of the musical
kind, of much greater value than a swag bag full of five pound notes – didn’t
deter Eddie Bellis’ outfit. Minus the band’s absent pianist, Bellis and co were
ready for Lift Off! Exhilarating, drilled
brass and reeds, an object lesson in dynamics, the ideal calling card.
What’s New? enquired the
band with a first shot at the stratosphere by Teesside’s top C trumpeter Kevin
Eland. Rollins’ Doxy encouraged the frontline
horns to craft a solo then pass the baton. Solo statements concise (an object
lesson in how to present the music and connect with the audience), ensemble
work neat and tidy, what’s not to like? Bellis suggested a Mulgrew Miller
chart. In doing so the trombonist stopped mid thought…Is that lippy? The eagled-eyed Mr Bellis detected traces of
lipstick on the mic. In jest our trombonist wondered if it was DW’s!
Meanwhile…the Miller chart was nowhere to be found, perhaps it was one of the
stolen charts?! Seamlessly the band opted to play Stolen Moments. Oliver Nelson’s masterwork could be thought of as
Lickety Split’s signature tune. On this occasion, as always, Alan Rudd’s bass
line was spot-on, and Eland rightly chose to play a mellow flugelhorn.
A new number in
the pad – Horace Sliver’s Nica’s Dream –
described by Bellis as: a bit of an epic,
a corking Sandu, and I Remember Clifford featuring Eland and
the seated Bradley Johnston, guitar. A couple more and the hour was up; Well, You Needn’t (drummer Paul Wight on
the case) and Miles’ Four. The Railway Street
Earlier Dave
Weisser’s merry band opened with one or two tunes including a Barry Ascroft
original Mr Rascal and the main man,
Mr Dave Weisser sang Secret Love. DW
told the story of the time he met the one and only Doris Day. Ask him about it
some time.
Russell.
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