GIJF Day 2: Jazz Attack - Sage Gateshead, April 7

Paul Edis (MD, alto sax); Ryan de Silva (piano, synth, baritone sax); Joe Baron (tenor sax); Aryun Ullal (flute); Sevgi Miller (alto sax, soprano sax); Alex Wright (guitar); Theo Wright (bass); Julian Gibson (drums)

(Review by Russell/photo courtesy of Jerry).

Musician and music tutor Paul Edis directs Jazz Attack. For those familiar with the long-established Jambone (MD Dr P Edis), based at Sage Gateshead, Jazz Attack could be seen as a ‘feeder’ band to the senior age group ensemble. These things are relative – Jazz Attack accommodates the early teen (with one or two slightly older) participants whereas Jambone offers opportunities to the mid to late teenage musician. This year’s Gateshead International Jazz Festival once again provided Edis and his young charges with a chance to show what they could do on the concourse stage. A sound check, lights, action…

Jazz-a-clap – or is it Jazzaclap? – opened the programme and as the title suggests band members engaged in a bout of hand clapping. The frontline horns of Sevgi Miller, soprano saxophone and Joe Baron, playing tenor, set the soloist’s bar. Lester Leaps In rattled along featuring Ryan de Silva booting his baritone sax (Ryan anchors the reeds in Jambone and also occupies the baritone chair in the excellent Early Bird ensemble) and a round of ‘fours’ effectively dispatched by Julian Gibson.

Members of Jazz Attack are encouraged to contribute to the development of tunes and some bring along pieces to the band’s regular rehearsal sessions. Ryan de Silva’s synth-infused 2018 A Space Odyssey featured a flute intro by Aryun Ullal. A recent recruit to Jazz Attack, Aryun made his mark and we’ll be hearing more from this young man, that’s for sure. MD Paul Edis likes to set the lads a challenging target, so, he suggested they play something with sections written in 6 and 7. And they did just that coming up with a composition titled What 13 Feels Like. The horns handled it easily, or so it seemed, as did the impressive rhythm section flying high thanks to the Wright Brothers – Alex, guitar, Theo, bass, and drummer Julian Gibson. You can bet your bottom dollar that these lads will be heard around town playing their own gigs in the not-too-distant future!   

Russell