Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music: Spinningwork @ Newcastle Arts Centre - Sept. 25

(Collage  © Ken Drew)

Cath Roberts (baritone sax); Tom Ward (alto sax); Olie Brice (bass); Johnny Hunter (drums)    

As explained by Johnny Hunter in the first intro of the evening, like many modern relationships, this one began on the internet. During lockdown, tech wiz and alto player Tom Ward had managed to create a utility to enable the quartet to practice together seamlessly via the web. The band's first actual in person rehearsal was the afternoon of this gig.

There were certainly no signs of ring rust when the first number, an untitled piece by Olie Brice, kicked off. A quiet laid back introduction burst into life with some cracking stuff and then gently mellowed down. Johnny Hunter’s composition Spinningwork2 had an almost march like feel as the band continued to create and entertain. The final piece of the first set, Cath Roberts’s  Dust That Never Settles, began with a call and response between alto and double bass. This was followed by a similar type of thing between drums and baritone before the whole ensemble played together to contrive a striking free and yet melodious conclusion.

The second set began with another Hunter composition Jajko which you may or may not know is the Polish name for an ouef. This was certainly a sizzler with drums and bass scrambling it up whilst the baritone poached away in the background. 

Johnny Hunter excelled again on Tom Ward’s composition the title of which I failed to catch. I also struggled to catch the name of Cath Roberts’s ending number which was something along the lines of Kind Re/Guards? Whatever they were called, the quality and the exhilarating feel of the music didn’t subside and the final number  saw great wild interplay between Ward’s alto and Hunter’s drums.

  

A thoroughly entertaining and stimulating evening. No one could have possibly guessed that this was the first time the unit had played together in the same room such was the togetherness and harmony on display. The good news is for those who would like to experience the gig either for the first time or relive the event. a live recording was made and will be out sometime in the forthcoming months on the NEWJAIM label. Steve H