Nick Malcolm (Trumpet); Jake McMurchie (Tenor Sax); Will Harris (Bass); Ric Yarborough (Drums)
(Review by Elliot Marlow-Stevens/PHOTOS courtesy of Ken Drew).
Led by trumpeter Nick Malcolm, Jade are a contemporary jazz quartet from Bristol, and their show at The Globe was the penultimate date of their Real Isn’t Real tour, which has been taking them across the country for the past month. Having been together for two years, they perform re-workings of tracks from Malcolm’s previous releases, and this includes his most recent album, Real Isn’t Real, which was released on Malcolm’s own Green Eyes Records in February this year.
Jade is comprised of trumpet, tenor saxophone, double bass, and drums, and they create an excellent modern twist on the free-jazz format. They blend expressive solos with driving melodies, with the brass often switching between duelling and unison, and each member commands their instrument superbly. 
Drummer Ric Yarborough also controlled the samples, generating a mix of ethereal reverb-drenched harmonies, as well as jarring industrial dissonance. They are expert improvisers, moving seamlessly between passages that are gentle and melodic, and then fiercely complex. The show was divided into two parts, with Malcolm talking to the audience explaining the history of the band and his projects, and everyone in the room was captivated throughout.
The Jazz Coop is a cooperative owned by its 200 members, running workshops and jam sessions all year round as well as hosting a variety of bands and musicians. They bought The Globe in 2014, and as well as the main bar, provide a space upstairs dedicated to live performances of all genres, specialising in jazz. This gig was promoted by Jazz North East in conjunction with the Coop, and it was fantastic to see a modern, experimental band in such a relaxed and intimate venue, at the forefront of Newcastle’s active jazz community.Ken Drew's PHOTOS.
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