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| (© Lewis Palmer) |
A youthful (ish), mainly student based, audience got what they came for - did they not!
This band don't know the meaning of pp. Their pp is my ff by which I mean they are loud and, judging by the whooping and the hollering, the whistling and the traditional hand-clapping and stamping of feet (later, stomping of feet on the cobbled floor), this is what the night was all about.
The solos were shared around with Lightfoot copping for most of the alto spots although Storey had a nice chorus late on. Lucy and Crissi shared the tenor solos and, without starting a cat fight I thought Lucy just edged it. Both did okay and Crissi won hands down for her hairstyle. On bari, front-man Wicks didn't solo but did tell some jokes - don't give up the day job Brian.
Billy Bradshaw blew the screamers on Maynard Ferguson's arrangement of Birdland whilst Sam Armstrong had a blast late on.
The north east's (in my opinion) top trombone man David Gray didn't solo - he was only depping - but Utting did good although, when Conor Polley swapped his 'bone for the mic the place erupted and, understandably so. He sang the last four numbers and the room was rockin'.
Needless to say, the rhythm section were solid throughout. Carver taking Caravan across the burning sands as if there wasn't an oasis in sight plus good solos across the set from piano, guitar and Osiyemi on bass guitar - hey! when did he hang up his microphone?
It was what it was and none the less for that. This is a band that nods to the past but brings its audience along to the present. Bon voyage. Lance
Computer; All the Things You Are; Blue Rondo à la Turk; Birdland; Tank; Caravan; Limehouse Blues; Everybody, Needs Somebody; Superstition; Crazy Little Thing Called Love; Wonderwall
3 comments :
What a night for rocking big bands! The excitingly Bold Big Band in Byker, and across the river, the Strictly Smokin' Big Band and Alice raised the heat at Sunderland's Fire Station, with the sounds of Ella and Ellington!
Acknowledging the misogyny doesn't make your comments any less misogynistic. Poor form, Lance.
The unknown warrior strikes again!
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