Party in the Park: Durham Brass - July 16

Durham Brass 2022 staged its Party in the Park in the glorious setting of Wharton Park. Durham City's hidden gem is within spitting distance of the north bound platform at Durham Railway Station. Who knew it - Wharton Park, that is - was there?! Well, several thousand people did as the amphitheatre was packed to the gunnels. Concert or family picnic? The latter, most definitely. Was it jazz? Tangentially, yes. 

Over the last few days bands from Britain and Europe have been playing on the streets of County Durham - from Crook to Seaham to Trimdon and other locations in the Land of the Prince Bishops, it's been all but impossible to have missed one or other of the brass bands on parade. Ice cream, burgers and beers, dancing, all under a burning early evening sun. On a short, flying visit your correspondent caught Bandakadabra from Italy. Suited and booted on a sweltering summer's day, the entertaining, affable eight piece outfit had 'em up boogieing to a raft of punchy pop hits.

Girlesque Street Band entered the arena in black and green attire (see photo of trumpeter Leonarda Tiloca and saxophonist Tatyana Pershina). Dodgy, choreographed dance routines were forgiven as the hordes loved what they were hearing from the all-female Italian troupe. Loud Noises are well named. T-shirts, shorts and flip-flops the order of the day, the British five piece made more of a 'jazz noise' than those who had gone before. Durham Brass tells the story - not jazz by any means, but who cares? It was all about a communal, festive occasion and for once, the weather played ball.
Russell