Football? What football? The SSBB @ The Millstone - June 28

(Review by Russell)
Air conditioning? What air conditioning? Football? Is there a match on? Manager Southgate made eight changes to the Ingerlund eleven, SSBB MD Lamb made no more than half a dozen changes to the 17. Yes, just the seventeen tonight at the Millstone, band vocalists Alice and F’reez were given the night off so that they could watch the football.

At this regular public rehearsal session, MD Michael Lamb rang the changes. Would the substitutes do enough to impress the gaffer? Those off the bench included Matt Forster playing alto and Boys of Brass drummer Dave Mckeague. A varied pad, including early pacesetters Point of Departure and Herman’s Apple Honey set the standard, would the pace slacken? Splanky just splendid, a big band arrangement of Lady be Good added colour and, closing out a stamina-sapping first forty-five, Johnny Richards’ Two Cultures.  

Early in the second half, Ingerlund were up against it (score updates courtesy of KP’s live streaming, via mobile phone, in the trombone section).* Here at the Millstone, alto dep Matt Forster played a blinder. A tenor/bass clarinet man, Forster blew away the opposition with some breathtaking alto saxophone. The northeast is fortunate to have heard some great alto players of late, add the name M Forster to the list! Oh, the tune…Jay Craig’s Okay with Jay. Scandinavian big band man Jacob Mann is a favourite of the SSBB and MD Lamb called Kogi. One of the impressive things about the SSBB is its ability to adapt to any chart, from Basie swing to contemporary compositions, and Mann’s chart held few fears.

A 1950s Bill Holman arrangement of Dancing Nitely for Maynard Ferguson set up a triple helping of the powerhouse trumpeter’s work culminating in a take on Benny Golson’s Whisper Not. Another from Stan Kenton staffer Johnny Richards (Rendezvous at Sunset), and to finish, Part One of Chris Walden’s Film Noir Suite. Next one at the Millstone – seven o’clock, July 26, followed by a prestigious concert at this year’s Ushaw Jazz Festival over the August bank holiday weekend featuring a very special guest, big band leader, and flautist, Gareth Lockrane.

Russell.

* Several years ago Sebastiaan de Krom played a gig at Newcastle City Hall during the European Football Championships with a portable TV on stage to watch his beloved Holland.  

SSBB: Michael Lamb MD, Elliott Todd, Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey trumpets; Mark Ferris, Kieran Parnaby, David Barnes, Tom Dowling trombones; Jamie Toms, Paul Gowland, Steve Summers, Matt Forster, Laurie Rangecroft saxophones;  Pawel Jedrzejewski guitar; Graham Don piano; Michael Whent bass: Dave Mckeague drums.