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| (© Malcolm Sinclair) |
Francis Tulip (Guitar); Tuoyo Awala
(electric piano); Stan Woodward (electric bass); King David Ike-Elechi (drums)
+ Ferg Kilsby (trumpet)
When we started the Gala Lunchtime Concert Series back in 2013, we advertised it as featuring both established and up-and coming north east musicians. We were unsure if there was an audience to sustain the concerts and if so who it would be. We quickly found we were filling a ready gap in the market and audiences quickly built to fill the available seats. We persuaded the Gala management to increase the capacity to 100, and for at least three years up until lockdown in March 2020, the box office was regularly turning disappointed customers away. Since re-opening in May last year audiences have slowly built back up – and it’s pleasing to see lots of new faces, albeit the dominant hair colour is silver and grey – but today’s concert was the first to sell out.
It also
featured a musician who, as a rare teenager, had once been a regular in the
audience, Francis Tulip (pictured above) returning to the Gala to lead a band that promised
searing guitar runs, a drum ‘n’ bass bassist and a ‘powerhouse’ drummer.
But what would the Gala’s demographic make of their music?
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| (© Malcolm Sinclair) |
Next conundrum: Billed as the
Francis Tulip Quartet, five musicians walk out, but the trumpeter sits out the
first number. Francis leads the quartet straight into NY guitarist Peter
Bernstein’s Blues of Gratitude, a fast piece made for his
style. His flowing guitar on the theme and fluent solo set the scene for what
is to come, confident contributions from his co-musicians creating an
impressive, tight ensemble sound.
A dedication (and a rainbow): After introducing
his band members, Francis paid a warm tribute to his late uncle John
Tulip and dedicated the concert to his memory. John had encouraged
Francis and nurtured his passion for the music. Afterwards someone told me a
rainbow appeared above the railway and across the valley as Francis spoke. May
the music be with you, John.
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| (© Malcolm Sinclair) |
Four becomes five: For the next
number Francis introduced trumpeter Ferg Kilsby, who quickly
added a new dimension to the ensemble as guitar and trumpet played the theme in
unison to open Kenny Garrett’s Backyard Groove. Each member got a
solo, Tuoyo’s piano invoking Return to Forever, an impression confirmed by
Woodward’s pulsing Stanley Clarke style electric bass.
For Francis Tulip’s own The Brunswick the pace slowed, but not the intensity which the band built up to culminate in Francis’ driving guitar riffs and an explosive drums solo from King David.
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| (© Malcolm Sinclair) |
The finale: The band closed
with a stunning arrangement of Freddie Hubbard’s Birdlike – or
was it Billie’s Bounce? In unison Francis played the head of the
one over Ferg playing that of the other, the band exploring the themes
in turn to bring the concert to a brilliant close.
Age hails youth: Rousing applause gave the answer to the first question. Clearly lots of chords were struck with the audience as this talented unit steered their way through early bebop, 50s/60s hard bop and 70s fusion and onwards to present a distinct contemporary take on their musical ancestors. Brian E
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