The Ushaw Ensemble @ The Lit & Phil - June 22

Paul Edis (MD, composer, piano); Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Graeme Wilson (tenor saxophone, bass clarinet, flute); Emma Fisk (violin); Andy May (Northumbrian pipes); Paul Susans (double bass); Rob Walker (drums, percussion)

(Review by Russell/photo from GIJF).

The Ushaw Ensemble came into being to perform a commissioned work by Paul Edis celebrating the life and work of St Cuthbert. Such was the success of the project that, following performances at Ushaw College and Durham Cathedral, the septet continued as a working unit playing concerts throughout the north east of England, including a rapturously received performance at this year’s Gateshead International Jazz Festival.

June’s offering in the Lit and Phil’s series of monthly lunchtime jazz concerts presented a further opportunity to hear Paul Edis’ St Cuthbert Suite and The Sound of Achill. A large gathering took their seats in anticipation of a journey through time, place, and, perhaps for some, something of a spiritual experience. St Cuthbert’s Suite comprises twelve parts – beginning with St Cuthbert’s Theme then venturing into heavyweight subjects; A Vision, The Indefatigable Evangelist then on to The Death of Cuthbert, Seven Years Wandering, concluding with Dunholme.

The music, by no means exclusively jazz, held the audience rapt. The virtuoso musicians were handpicked for the project, most of them familiar jazz names – Graeme Hardy, Graeme Wilson, Emma Fisk, bassist Paul Susans and drummer Rob Walker – with Northumbrian pipes specialist Andy May adding a new texture to the regulation jazz ensemble sound. Soloists all, their stunning contributions were met with a typical jazz gig response…spontaneous, hollered applause.

The Ushaw Ensemble will soon go into the recording studio, Bebop Spoken Here will provide an update on such matters, so be sure to check these pages on a regular basis.

Russell.