(Review by Lance).
23 musicians, maybe more, 'jammed' into 3 hours of sheer delight. They came, they blew, they plucked, they sang, they paradiddled, they conquered.
New faces, old faces, both in the audience and in the performance area - I doubt if anyone was disappointed apart from those at the back of the sitters-in queue who maybe arrived too late and didn't make the cut.
Veteran trombonist Neville Hartley made his Jazz Caff debut and proved he could hold his own with the young Turks with some fine playing. Jordan Alfonso left his alto at home and, instead, dazzled on a dazzling tenor - a recent acquisition I wonder?
Harry Keeble blew tenor like as though JC was still with us. Likewise Paul Gowland on soprano. Keeble wore shorts. The last Keeble I saw wearing shorts played for NUFC back in the day when they used to win things. This Keeble also looks to win things musically. David Gray too wore shorts, shorts that were almost as eye-catching as his trombone playing was ear-catching.
Newcomer Mehraram had a brief stint on piano playing a tune I know but cannot for the life of me recall the title.
Hardy and Metcalf added their own brand of fire to the brass whilst Tulip and Williams gave us a glimpse of guitar heaven.
For once, Paul Grainger had an easier shift with John Pope providing respite and behind them, the drummers were almost on a conveyer belt as Walker gave way to Finn who moved over for Fairhurst who vacated the stool for Bradford who passed the sticks to MacKellar who, in turn, brought Walker back into the fray for an exciting musical brawl with Murphy on congas.
Then there were the singers.
Oh yes, we had singers, did we not!
Niffi gave us Almost Like Being in Love, delivered in her own inimitable style, Kate added more emotion with I Only Have Eyes For You and Andrea Harrison pitched in with Lover Man. This was as good as it gets - or was it?
I'll explain. No, Don't Explain sang Nishla Smith. We didn't - the silenced room said it all.
Nishla, an Australian singer from Manchester, currently in residence at Sage Gateshead, provided a welcome contrast Check her out.
The evening ended with all and sundry Letting the Good Times Roll - they certainly
rolled last night!Photos.
Lance
Mark Williams (guitar); Paul Grainger (bass); Rob Walker (drums/bass guitar) + Brendan Murphy (congas); Abbie Finn (drums); Harry Keeble (tenor); John Pope (bass); Ramtin Mehraram (piano); Matt Fairhurst (drums); James Metcalf (trumpet); Jordan Alfonso (tenor); Graham Hardy (trumpet); Neville Hartley (trombone); Niffi Osiyemi (vocal); Nishla Smith (vocal); John Bradford (drums); Kate O'Neill (vocal); Francis Tulip (guitar); Andrea Harrison (vocal); Lisa Delarny (guitar); Matt MacKellar (drums); Paul Gowland (soprano); David Gray (trombone).
1 comment :
Some of the singing was just great last night.
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