Album Review: Article XI - Live in Newcastle

I have been present at several live album recordings, perhaps the most notable was 40 years ago to the month that I was  at Ronnie Scott's for Mole Jazz’s inaugural release, Blues for the Fisherman featuring the Art Pepper Quartet. A truly memorable evening that I still look back on with fondness to this day with the added bonus of being able to listen to the album knowing that somewhere I am featured within.

It was a great pleasure to receive the latest CD from Anton Hunter’s Article XI band  Live in Newcastle.  This album was recorded at The Bridge Hotel in December 2017 as part of a double bill with Cath Roberts’s Favourite Animals  band. I remember giving the evening a very positive review on BSH.

The very first thing you get to hear on the recording is JNE’s Wesley Stephenson introducing the band. A double bass solo from Seth Bennett then kicks off the opening number, Municriation,  before the horns join up. A fairly thoughtful passage ensues with everybody in the team getting a go. Finally, things really ramp up delivering a rip roaring rollicking driving tour de force.

Always A Fox is a tribute to Leicester City’s Premiership success  in 2016 it seems to mirror the mighty Fox’s miracle season – scratchy and searching at first, it builds up to a triumphant  strident blast as the title is secured before basking out in the reflected glory of their amazing feat. I look forward to the sequel , Forever a Magpie, to celebrate the Toon’s Premiership win in  2021.

Not The Kind of Jazz You Like could be dedicated to BSH supremo Lance but for me, it was just the kind of jazz I like – featuring a great baritone solo form Cath Roberts and then developing with a real swinging contemporary big band type of sound. Given that this was a  live recording I was taken with how amazingly tight the 11 strong ensemble comes across.

The album concludes with the uplifting I Dreamed I Spat Out a Bumble Bee. As the evening came to a close I’m sure that  I could hear myself clapping and cheering among the sizeable crowd.

A great memento of a fine evening  the CD cover has  great artwork from Angela Guyton and on the inside cover there is even a photograph from BSH ace photographer Ken Drew.

I am sure that even for those not lucky enough to be present on that  December evening this CD would still provides a highly  enjoyable listen.

Steve H

Try/buy.

Links ( see comment by Ken Drew)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c73PTEXDUsk (full version)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y146beOtFPo (extract)

ARTICLE XI

Sam Andreae (alto sax); Ollie Dover (alto sax); Simon Prince (tenor sax, flute); Cath Roberts (baritone sax); Graham South (trumpet); Nick Walters (trumpet); Tullis Rennie (trombone); Kieran McLeod (trombone); Anton Hunter (guitar); Seth Bennett (bass); Johnny Hunter (drums).