Byron Wallen plays Boards of Canada @ Gosforth Civic Theatre - Feb. 18

Byron Wallen (trumpet, conch shell, ugal?); Chris Jerome (keyboards); Paul Michael (bass guitar, synth); David Dyson (drums); Gayan Gamelan Ensemble: Tara Jerome (bonang panerus); Freddie Abel Parrish (saron); John Pawson (ugal?); Wilf Diamond (gongs)

Storm Eunice largely failed to disrupt Tynesiders' daily routines as Byron Wallen's eight piece band battled through storm-stricken southern parts of England, eventually arriving in the region in one piece. All things considered, a delay of less than half an hour to the scheduled start could be regarded as something of an achievement. No fanfare, no announcement, bandleader Wallen ambled onto Gosforth Civic Theatre's stage to muted applause.

One of trumpeter Wallen's current projects is to interpret, and take inspiration from, Boards of Canada's 1998 debut album Music Has the Right to Children. Boards of Canada is the somewhat reclusive electronica duo of Scottish siblings Michael Sandison and Marcus Eoin. Wallen professed a twenty five year love affair with the album and thought it a good idea to play the music with his established quartet with the addition of four gamelan musicians. An Eagle in Your Mind opened the show, Wallen instantly impressing, the bell of his trumpet pressed tight against the mic, Chris Jerome's keyboards prominent, as they would be throughout the evening, bassist Paul Michael locking onto drummer David Dyson's pulsating dance-rhythms. 

The Gayan gamelan ensemble utilised the smallest of mallet-struck instruments (John Pawson) to Wilf Diamond's heavy duty gongs assemblage. As the one-set performance unfolded it became apparent the Javanese artillery was to be used sparingly. Several of Wallen's compositions(Heart to Art, Light) featured alongside cuts from the album in question (Sixtyten, Telephasic Workshop and Olson). In addition to some impressive trumpet playing, Wallen blew one or more conch shells. Loops (Wallen), ambient electronica interjections from Chris Jerome and Paul Michael, this storm-free evening met with the approval of a largely non-jazz audience. Wallen alluded to another project - Miles Davis' In a Silent Way. Now that would be a Gosforth Civic Theatre gig to savour! Russell