What a difference a day makes! Blue
skies overhead, Saturday's rain long gone, the DJazz outdoor stage was about to
come into its own. First, a noon date with Kinesis in the pop-up space.
Drummer Abbie Finn and
saxophonist Harry Keeble are Kinesis. Here at
Durham's Riverwalk development the duo enlisted friend Paul Grainger to
play the bass anchor role in a one hour set of classic numbers. Abbie, a postgraduate now picking up choice gigs as a professional musician (working with
Simon Spillett is on the cv), works in partnership with soon-to-graduate Harry
(Leeds College of Music) presenting a series of extended workouts ranging
from Caravan to Cheese Cake. Bassist Grainger
knows the pad inside and as an occasional trio, there is an obvious chemistry
between the three musicians. The many early birds enjoyed a swinging set,
probably the swinging set of the weekend.

Leeds continues to be a hothouse and
one of the latest 'products' is Jasmine. A six-piece band led by
alto saxophonist Jasmine Whalley offered a summer sun-filled
set. Whalley cites Soweto Kinch as an influence although her alto sound is
lighter and less insistent than that of the man from Brum. Original
compositions (King Cobra and Cold Sweat) and Shabaka
Hutchings' Joyous were given a mellow vibe treatment by
Whalley's band; Ben Haskins, guitar, George MacDonald,
piano, Owen Burns, bass and drummer George Hall.
The Holy GrAle bottled beer emporium
on Crossgate is neighbour to Durham City Workmen's Club and Institute. The idea
of a cheap pint and a game of doms appealed but a rare appearance by a Scottish
improv icon won the day. Holy GrAle's clientele preferred talk of Soviet poet
Vladimir Mayakovsky and a recitation of works by Scottish poet Edward Morgan.
Guitarist George Burt held court in a brick-lined, dimly lit
cellar with hipsters and the like sitting at the feet (literally) of the
brilliant Burt.

DJazz continued on the outdoor stage
(Not Now Charlie) and in the pop-up (Archipelago's Between Waves
project). BSH caught a few minutes of MacCalman/Pope/Alderson's collaboration
with Fran Bundey including the oft-heard Puddles, Germs and
an as yet untitled piece. Time was pressing, the big event on this final day of
DJazz 2019 was looming...

The Shakespeare beckoned, situated as
it is half way down Saddler Street. A well-kept pint of London Pride served as
a restorative. As the final event of DJazz 2019 was about to start the
organisers-in-chief Carlo, Nick and Heather offered a few words of thanks. The
crowded room erupted in applause for them - Carlo, Nick and Heather. And so
to Slow Loris.
A four-piece from Leeds,
Slow Loris were selected by Jazz North to be beneficiaries of touring
opportunities and professional mentoring with this Durham festival date part of
the package. Sam Lowther, guitar, Sam Evans,
guitar, Chris Sellers, bass and drummer Theo Goss combine
a love of rock, metal and hip hop rooted in jazz. This festival appearance
presented the rock and metal side of the band with the jazz element largely
absent. Goss' hard-hitting, relentless drumming powered the band as, for one
night only, jazz fans turned into head-banging metal freaks.
Russell
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