(Review by Chris K)
The first outing of the 2019-20 term for Sage Gateshead's jazz ensembles at the Winter Festival, and a chance to see the young talent as work in progress. The ensembles range from 10-19 and benefit from superb tuition, leadership and facilities - so no pressure when they perform at their home venue!
First up were Jazz Attack (aged 10-16) on the concourse, in fine form and numbers with keyboards and reeds a plenty but short on brass and especially drums, drafting in leader Paul Edis - is there nothing this man can't turn his hand to? A stirring carol, followed by a very slinky rendition of old favourite Chameleon with some great showcases on clarinet, keys and of course bass. A lively version of Fly Me To The Moon followed before I had to abandon the distant future of jazz to hear the nearer future, in the shape of the older ensembles (aged 14-19) in Hall 2.
Next up were JB's (James Birkett's) CATS, a sextet of 2 guitars, sax, trombone and rhythm section. A set of delightful and gentle classics of old started with Seven Come Eleven featuring Nathan Lawson as a convincing Charlie Christian, and strong solos from new members Ben Haslam (trombone) and Sophie Speed (alto). Cinnamon and Clove followed, led by Ben and Sophie, this time on clarinet - a welcome sight in these sax dominated times.
An unusual and very well received (funk) version of Scrapple from the Apple followed, showcasing the excellent (and smiling!) Gemma Watson on drums, driving more great solos from Nathan and Sophie. Gemma then showed off her brush work on the lovely ballad When Sunny Gets Blue giving a smooth ride to more gorgeous solos from Ben and Sophie. Finally Short Stop by Shorty Rogers didn't sell the band short. Rhythm guitar and bass stylishly provided by Joe Ducker and George Ivanov, who was to reappear in the next set on guitar.
Jambone then took the stage with leader and writer in chief Edis leaving the sticks behind to conduct a set of five brand new pieces of his own. Jambone had inevitably lost some very fine players last year so it was an open question as to how they would bear up. Not to worry - the rhythm section deluxe of old boys Dylan Thompson (drums) and Alex Shipsey (bass) augmented by another fine new drummer Nathan Hulme, led off in style with Nonchalant . This new smooth swinger from Edis featured multiple fine solos, notably a great bass break from Shipsey and Sophie Speed on clarinet (when she wasn't playing tenor!). The second, The Town, is the third in Paul's occasional series inspired by the Newcastle Metro system - the others being The Coast and The Long Way Round. This latest is a collision with Antônio Carlos Jobim - a most un-Geordie Bossa Nova !
Back-to- back Bede's Blues and the memorable Hild's Waltz were written at the Durham college of that name for the band's inaugural residential in Durham, and showcased some fine solos, with Jack Pearce particularly mature on alto, and the drummers trading 4's in some style. The hit of the day though was Runaway Momentum, inspired by watching the Great North Run, rather than the catastrophe overtaking the Labour Party. This was a complex and challenging rhythmical task, in a sparse and abstract mood, carried off with some aplomb by the band (seemingly to the writer's surprise!). The piece was set up by Shipsey on bass ostinato, with Thompson on marimba laying down a repeated line which slipped continuously through the bars landing at different points each time due to changing time sigs. Clever stuff, but emotionally charged too, with duelling leads from first Adam Johnston on bari sax and the full-toned Zak Parlby on tenor, then Ferg Kilsby (trumpet) and newboy Sam Banks on trombone.
The set closed with Stuffy Turkey, Thelonious Monk's incongruous attempt at a Christmas hit! This featured a trademark quirky soprano solo from Haaruun Miller and stylish piano from Jacob Russan-Pritchett. With a six strong reeds line up (completed by Suzy Hull on alto), and brass line up completed by the powerful James Goldberg on trumpet, Jambone are clearly in good voice and in good hands.
I caught them again the next day supporting Paul Edis' new smash hit Christmas Jazz extravaganza at Middlesbrough Town Hall, where some rough edges had already been knocked off. Be sure to catch their performances next year at the Gateshead Jazz Festival and elsewhere, as they will only get even better! 
No comments :
Post a Comment