The Great North Big Band Jazz Festival has come of age. First staged in Sunderland, the event would later migrate to Park View Community Centre in Chester-le-Street. This year's edition of the annual big band extravaganza - the twenty first! - welcomed bands old and new. No fewer than eleven bands would compete in Saturday's open section (ie senior bands). Coaches, cars and those hopping off buses (no trains due to engineering works) turned off Front Street, making a beeline for Park View.
As big band fans filed into the hall, Bill Watson's stage crew scurried back and forth making final preparations minutes before the first of the day's bands took to the stage. Late morning, the first of this year's competition bands emerged from the wings, ready to take the fight to the opposition. Durham Alumni Big Band (MD, Shaune Eland) regularly takes home silverware, would 2024 see the band in the winner's circle once again? Bob Mintzer's Good News opened the DABB's programme, George Cables' Camel Rise (arr. Matt Roberts) featured superb flugelhorn by Jonny Dunn and commanding tenor from Dan Johnson, followed by Ian Robinson's arrangement of Astor Piazzolla's Libertango, the set concluding with Don Ellis' Final Analysis (Dunn, trumpet, Stephen Fletcher, drums, the featured soloists). An excellent set, could this be the Alumni's year?
Bay Big Band (MD, Adrian Boardman) made its GNBBJF debut here in Chester-le- Street. Well, not quite, more a change of name. Lancaster Community Music Centre Big Band is now known as the Bay Big Band with Adrian Boardman remaining at the helm. Myles Collins' Nou's Blues opened the programme, Hannah Bayliss, tenor sax, the featured soloist. Killing Me Softly came as a surprise choice, Laura Tattersall the vocalist. Ernie Wilkins' We and Us closed an interesting set.
Darlington Big Band (MD, Richie Emmerson) is an active outfit, rehearsing on a weekly basis down the road at Darlington & Simpson Rolling Mills Social Club. It's hard to believe it's taken until the GNBBJF's 21st anniversary year for Richie Emmerson's cracking big band to make its bow here in Chester-le-Street. Classic big band charts - Take the A Train, I Remember Clifford, Love for Sale and Richard Rodgers' suite Slaughter on Tenth Avenue - were the order of the day. A fine big band (ensemble and soloists) with a community feel about it, in an off-mic comment at the end of I Remember Clifford, MD Emmerson remarked on Bill Watson's solo feature: Well done, Bill.
Bold Big Band (MD, Brian Wicks) jumped the queue, swapping places in the schedule with the Tyne Valley Big Band. The Newcastle based band, comprising students and graduates, is 'Bold' by name and 'Bold' in approach. Saxophonist Pippa Morgan's solo on Beulah Witch drew applause, not least from the band's travelling support. Just One of Those Things heard Conor Polley singing and scatting and guitarist Ben Davies, the latter a regular participant at Newcastle Arts Centre's bi-monthly jam session. Minuano (Six Eight), that's the Metheny-Mays composition, closed the set with some top-notch trumpet playing by Sam Armstrong. A good set, what would the adjudicators make of it?
Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra (MD, Amogha Ramasharan) supports the GNBBJF year in, year out. The current band (2023-24) brought along a regulation pad - Count Bubba, I've Got the World on a String and Purple Porpoise Parkway - and one or two top flight soloists. Count Bubba rattled along, Olly Styles (tenor sax) nailing his solo. Excellent! A new name/new face, vocalist Eddie Bond sang I've Got the World On a String - interesting left of centre phrasing, although slightly down in the mix, let's here Mr Bond (Eddie Bond) at a Black Swan jam session.
Leeds University Union Big Band opened without any credited or discernible musical director, the ensemble taking care of business. Bob Florence, Michel Camilo and Michael League (Snarky Puppy) the composers of choice, LUUBB made a big impression across the board (drummer Bruce Hygate, rhythm section and ensemble).
Ribble Valley Big Band (MD, Paul J Rigby) hit the ground running with Charles Mingus' Pedal Point Blues, the two trombones of Jack Yerkess and Nathan Barnes impressing alongside Rick Halliwell, baritone sax (Halliwell on loan from the Managers Big Band). Paul Frogatt's alto sax playing on Killer Joe hit the spot, the Ribble Valley's set was shaping up nicely. The RVBB could be in the frame.
It had been a full day of competitive big band action with one remaining band to close it out. Leeds Conservatoire Student Union Big Band (MDs, Poppy Hughes & Elliot Scribot-Carter) arrived with Gordon Goodwin and a Bob Curnow arrangement of Riverdance in its locker. LCSUBB deftly negotiated every twist and turn of Goodwin's Count Bubba's Revenge, however, the vocal trio of Umer Sair, Phoebe Bedford and Amelie Payne-Heneghan singing Snake Eater more than impressed the crowded hall.
Late afternoon it was standing room only and for good reason...the results were imminent. Adjudicators Marcus Brown and Mick Donnelly handed GNBBJF festival director Bill Watson a sheaf of paper and the results were read out to much whooping and hollering... Russell
Adjudicators' award: Bruce Highgate, drums (Leeds University Union Big Band)
Adjudicators' award: Ben Davies, guitar (Bold Big Band)
Adjudicators' award: Vocal ensemble (Edinburgh University Jazz Orchestra)
Best Programme: Leeds Conservatoire Student Union Big Band
Best Section: Whole of the brass section, Durham Alumni Big Band
Best Soloist: Jack Looman, trombone, solo on Emily (The Managers Big Band)
Best Band: The Managers Big Band
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