Newcastle Jazz Festival Day Two: Dennis Rollins; Mo Scott; Jasmine Quintet - August 14

Photo © Malcolm Sinclair

Dennis Rollins' Velocity Trio: Dennis Rollins (trombone); Ross Stanley (Hammond B3); Pedro Segundo (drums) + Anoushka Nanguy (trombone).

Day two of the Newcastle Jazz Festival moved from the opulence of the Civic Centre to the more down to earth setting of the Tyne Bank Brewery for another day of variety and a wider choice of ale. However, quantity doesn't always equate with quality although, musicwise, it most certainly did.

The headline act was Dennis Rollins' Velocity Trio and velocity they had in abundance.

Photo © Malcolm Sinclair

To describe them as a powerhouse trio would be the understatement of the century. They begin where most bands of that description finish! Rollins, blowing a trombone with an uptilted horn didn't hold back. At times he created the effect of two trombones using, I presume, a form of octave pedal. Later, he converted the digital magic to reality when he brought fellow trombonist Anoushka on stage and the pair, backed up by Ross Stanley on Hammond and, not one but two Leslie speakers, the sound was something else. With Pedro Segundo driving them like a man on a mission to challenge every drummer in the world to put up or shut up the audience were shell-shocked for a brief second before they realised just what they'd experienced.

If you think I'm exaggerating and need further proof, it almost put a head on my beer - almost.

These were three guys who would win any shoot out and, who's not to say that under Dennis' mentorship that Anoushka will soon be up there too. As it stands, she's not far off.

The material came from two albums: The 11th Gate and Symbiosis. The queues soon formed for signed CDs.

The Mo Scott Band: Mo Scott (vocals); Dave Dryden (guitar); Keith Peberdy (bass guitar); Paul Smith (drums). 

Mo was in a tough spot having to follow the previous set and, having been confined to barracks since you know when, she had it all to do. However, the north east's number one blues mama, like her inspirations, is at her best when the cards are stacked against her and it didn't take her long to to get the remainers to remain. Mo, and her music, is here to stay.

Numbers included: Devil Woman; Fever; Mercy, Mercy, Mercy; I Want Some Sugar in my Bowl; Don't Let me be Misunderstood; I Don't Need no Doctor; When the Sun Goes Down. 

Jasmine Quintet: Jasmine Whalley (alto sax); Sam Quintana (bass); Jasper Green (keys) Ben Haskins (guitar); ? (drums).

I must hang my head in shame here. Just as the set began, the hunger pangs hit - it had been a long time since breakfast - and I nipped out to the Caps Off catering van, parked outside, thinking I'll miss perhaps one number. Unfortunately, or perhaps not unsurprisingly, many others were of a similar mind and the queue was approaching crowd control status (slight exaggeration) the upshot being that I missed most of the set although, what I did hear was some contemporary jazz played by a fine alto player with a band that demonstrated the qualities that got them their Northern Line support grant. Lance             

ps: If you want to live the blues life you don't need to go to Chicago, Philly or Detroit. Just get on the Q3 bus late evening when the sun done gone down. 

An altercation between a drunk and a couple of equally inebriated women was approaching its climax. One of the 'ladies' said to the guy: "You're going to regret that remark for the rest of your life" which I thought was on a par with Clint Eastwood's "Make my day" in the movie Dirty Harry. However, at this point the bus stopped and two of Newcastle's finest boarded the bus and released the women into the jungle a.k.a. Dean St. on a Friday night.