Northern Monkey
Brass Band: Graham Hardy (trumpet); Alastair Lord (trumpet); Jamie Toms (tenor
sax); Mark Ferris (trombone); David Gray (trombone); Phil Rosier (tuba); Adam
Sinclair (snare drum); Brendan Murphy (bass drum) + George Welch (vocal)
(Review by Russell)
Graham Hardy's
Northern Monkey Brass Band is one of Tyneside's most accomplished outfits
coming up with the goods time and again on the local gig circuit. Northern
Monkey Business is the eight piece band's second CD release. If
there is such a thing as the 'difficult' second album then it definitely
doesn't apply to this one. It's every bit as good as the first one (High on
Life) and the tunes are, as some might say, 'bangers', in a street brass
band sort of way!
Ten tracks, seven
composed and arranged by Hardy, three 'traditional' numbers arranged by the
trumpet playing bandleader, Northern Monkey Business comes in
at around fifty two minutes and there is never a dull moment. The band members'
jazz credentials have been well documented but it is their collective cv
encompassing rock, pop, orchestral, experimental and more which gives the
Northern Monkey Brass Band a distinctive edge.
Attitude, the opening track, has just that, 'attitude'. Not in tiresome 'big I
am' style, far from it, rather eight excellent musicians deciding they'll have
a good time and this recording suggests they did just that. Hardy's sleeve
notes identify the soloists track by track although those who've heard the band
live - that's quite a few of us! - will have little difficulty identifying
who's who. In short, trumpeter Alastair Lord invariably hits the high Cs and
the big, boistrous trombone blasts come courtesy of David 'Showtime' Gray. That
said, Mark Ferris has been known to plunger with the best of the 'bone
battalion.
The percussion boys
- Adam Sinclair and Brendan Murphy - feature on Monkey Blood and,
it should be said, these two radiate enjoyment. Go hear the band at a gig and
see for yourself! Simian Ska is a skanking vehicle for first,
bandleader Hardy, then Gray, it's right up his street is this one! Come to
think of it, Showtime is from the same school of musical thought as our
percussionists - good time playing with chops to back it up.
A Northumbrian folk
song features a guest appearance by George Welch. Water of Tyne is
afforded a stately treatment (solos from Hardy, Jamie Toms, tenor sax and Gray)
to accommodate the legendary folk singer's vocals.
Northern Monkey's
Second Line is on a par with material from the
likes of the Dirty Dozen and the Youngbloods and Hardy's arrangement of the
closing track, What a Friend (opening with marvellous analogue
recording-like crackles!), would go down well on the streets of N'Awlins.
Perhaps one day the Northern Monkey Brass Band will make it to the Crescent
City. Now then, wouldn't that be something?!
Russell
Northern Monkey
Business (NMBB 002) is available from:
www.nothernmonkeybrassband.com and at
gigs.
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