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| (Photo by Russell) |
Diane McLoughlin (tenor/soprano
saxes); Steve Lodder (piano); Deirdre Cartwright (guitar); Alison Rayner
(bass/bass guitar); Buster Birch (drums).
The room was full. I can't remember seeing so many in
the downstairs bar. The JNE faithful were there, along with the Globe
regulars and those of us who simply go where the music takes them.
This co-promotion between Jazz North East and the Jazz Co-op was one of the best jazz gigs at the Co-op's HQ since, well, er, since ARQ played the upper room back in 2018.
Although leader/bassist Rayner composed most of the pieces,
Lodder, McLoughlin and Cartwright also chipped in with compositions of their
own. Someone described it as retro-funk whatever that is. Well, from now on,
I'm a retro-funk fan.
(© Ken Drew)
Each and everyone soloed as if Armageddon were on the horizon and maybe it is. Ranging from reflective pastoral themes to kick the door down and put the boot in explosions the dynamics in both solos and ensembles were a masterclass in the art of contrast.
The numbers were, in the main, taken from the band's third album - Short Stories - and included A Crack is Everything; Buster Breaks a Beat; A Braw Boy; The Trunk Call; Life Lived Wide; Seeing Around Corners.
To finish, Rayner switched to electric bass (she'd alternated between her two instruments throughout the session) for A Portrait of Jaco.
The band, like the audience, finished on a high - Lance
1 comment :
Lance is spot on.One of the best gigs I have attended at the wonderfully refurbished Globe. In addition to the packed audience we were told that many were live live-streaming the event. ARQ were on fire and having the time of their lives - as were those lucky enough to be there.
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