Quentin Collins & Matt Roberts with the Durham Alumni Big Band @ Northgate United Reformed Church, Darlington - Oct. 22

Quentin Collins (trumpet); Matt Roberts (MD, trumpet) with the Durham Alumni Big Band: Shaune Eland (MD), Ian Robinson, Jonny Dunn, Kevin Eland, Andrew Meadowcroft (trumpets); Alistair White, Terry O'Hern, Andrew Kirtley, ? (trombones); Dan Johnson, Barbara Fagin (tenor sax); Steve McGarvie (alto sax, soprano sax, keyboards); Kirsty Dunn (alto sax); Danielle Drew (baritone sax); Shaun Henderson (guitar); Ted Pearce (keyboards); Amy Baker (bass); Stephen Fletcher (drums)

The mighty Durham Alumni Big Band has been inactive for sometime. Post-pandemic plans were in place to present a concert featuring the music of Freddie Hubbard. Various factors conspired against a spring time date and it was only now, on a cold but bright, autumnal day, that the Alumni and its star guests could get together in the same room. 

The United Reformed Church on Northgate in Darlington is undergoing major renovation work, however, church authorities were in a position to make available its rather splendid building. The Alumni took up the offer and spent the afternoon running through the concert programme with trumpeters Quentin Collins and Matt Roberts. As the doors opened at six o'clock the 'house full' signs were in place. Yes, it had been a while but the Durham Alumni Big Band - with guests - were back!

MD Shaune Eland's top class band opened proceedings with George Gershwin - Cuban Overture (Steve McGarvie, alto sax, Jonny Dunn, trumpet, the featured soloists), Summertime (Ian Robinson, trumpet, Dan Johnson, tenor sax) and a Gordon Goodwin arrangement of I Got Plenty o' Nuttin' featuring a short, but scintillating blast from returning local hero, Matt Roberts. 

It was time to introduce Quentin Collins. Less than twenty four hours earlier, at the invitation of Jo Harrop, Collins was performing at Hampstead Jazz Club, London. Here in Darlington the London based trumpeter stood out front of the Alumni. George Cables' Camel Rise from Freddie Hubbard's 1974 album High Society opened the show and what a show it was to be! Trumpet on its stand, Collins blew flugelhorn - and how! Fleet-of-finger doesn't tell half the story. In possession of an astounding technique, Collins' solo generated sparks which cascaded across the room. And this was just the opener! 

Cold Turkey from Freddie Hubbard's 1970 Red Clay recording featured the Alumni in a free-ish Ornette/Trane opening section (they were having fun), after which Collins reached for the stratosphere in a sustained solo effort of breath-taking (literally and metaphorically) virtuosity. It was time for the Alumni to take a breather, well, most of them, as we heard Collins working in small group format with the DABB's ace rhythm section - Steve McGarvie, keyboards (pianist Ted Pearce taking a well-earned 'five'), the fabulous Amy Baker, bass, and drummer Stephen Fletcher - on Birdlike (Hubbard's nod to Charlie Parker and Donald Byrd). 

The interval. The 'jazz economy' raffle offered numerous prizes, not one of them made its way to Tyneside. A natter with PB, TE, DS and others, another BYOB bottle (Spitfire) and before long the second set was upon us.

Ian Robinson stepped out of the trumpet section, joined by Steve McGarvie (soprano sax) to reprise his arrangement of Pavane (which was well received at the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival earlier this year). BSH noted Quentin Collins listened intently, duly applauding with the rest of us at its end. Excellent. Collins playing trumpet or flugelhorn, it's musicianship of the highest order. This evening, two numbers on flugelhorn - Steve Waterman's arrangement of Little Sunflower and, from '79, Hubbard's Love Connection - were but two highlights among many. On the latter, tenor saxophonist Dan Johnson made yet another incisive contribution, a great foil to Collins. Throughout the evening the Alumni's many soloists stepped up, including Jonny Dunn (trumpet), Dan Johnson (tenor) and Steve McGarvie (principally playing alto sax). The ensemble itself played a blinder. Matt Roberts knows just how good these guys are, now his mate, up from London, fellow trumpeter Collins will, no doubt, be singing the praises of the Durham Alumni Big Band. More concerts are in the pipeline, watch this space. Russell