(Review by Russell)
A bank holiday Monday at the Jazz
Co-op's HQ on Railway Street brought out a good number of folk to listen to the
Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra (NUJO). A truly 'big' big band - four
trumpets, three 'bones, six saxes, two alternating pianists, an award-winning
guitarist, bass player, drummer and four vocalists (one of them doubling on
alto sax, another from the trumpet section) - out for a good time with, for
some of them, examinations on the horizon.
NUJO's bulging pad is nothing if not
varied - Watermelon Man, Wonderwall, ensemble whistling to
accompany alto saxophonist Matt Green's vocal on Mr Bojangles, Chameleon, Mack
the Knife, female vocals on Sir Duke.
Equally lung-busting work from 'bone
man Tom McDonald won applause from within the band and from the Jazz Co-op audience.
A cut from The Atomic Mr Basie album, Jaco's The
Chicken, Earth Wind and Fire's September, yes, it was party
time alright! Get the beers in, there's a third set to come!
R-E-S-P-E-C-T for Aretha, the
Toms - Alcorn and McDonald - blazin' on Daft Punk's Get Lucky, just
go with it, the Bright Young Things were having a party! Three hours in NUJO
eventually called time but not before an encore - John Fogerty's Proud
Mary - sent the Jazz Co-op crowd on its way.
Russell
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