GNBBJF - Sunday March 3 (Schools Section)

Sunday's action began bright and early, 11:00am to be precise. Five school bands pitched up, three of them local, ie from nearby Northumberland and Yorkshire. The other two had travelled a distance. Such is the reputation of the Great North Big Band Jazz Festival, schools and their inspirational music teachers are prepared to fund travel and, in some cases, overnight accommodation. This 2024 edition of the competition attracted Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Senior Jazz Band and Wrekin College Jazz Band, all the way from Shropshire. 

And it was down to Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Senior Jazz Band (MD, Tom Gledhill) to get the day's action underway. Previous winners here in Chester-le-Street, a glance at Abraham Darby's programme indicated we were in for a varied set. Eric Morales' Alianza, featuring trumpeter Tom Hoof, set the standard, a very high standard. Radiohead's Paranoid Android performed by a school band, a band of young musicians playing beyond their years. Tremendous. For variation, Send in the Clowns, yes a varied set topped off by the Kris Berg arrangement of The Chicken (Berg's arrangement of Pee Wee Ellis' classic jazz-funk number would be heard again later in the day). A fine set, would Abraham Darby be in the shake up?

Ponteland High School (MD, Phil Rosier) returned to Chester-le-Street for a second year. Tutored by brass musician Phil Rosier, the Northumberland outfit looked to Michael Jackson, Cyndi Lauper, Herbie Hancock and Gordon Goodwin. Good choices all, the Park View audience liked what it was hearing. A cooking rhythm section, guitarists Benjamin Ely and Rhys Johnson caught the ear. A most enjoyable set, Ponteland High will be back, that's for sure.

Wrekin College Jazz Band (MD, Simon Platford), like Abraham Darby, travelled a long way, in excess of 200 miles, suggesting Simon Platford's charges could have something about them. Strike Up the Band, Skylark, Erik Morales' Alianza and Sing Sing Sing, let's hear them. A good trumpeter, an excellent drum solo, a tight ensemble, ticking all the right boxes. And then, tenor saxophonist Toby Egerton played Skylark. Wow! Game over, Toby Egerton put himself in the box seat for the 'Best Soloist' award. 

St Aidan's Swing Band (MD, Vicki Elliott) supports the GNBBJF year in, year out. Previous winners, St Aidan's invariably travel with a decent trumpet section. From Brass Machine to Sam's Boogie, the band from Harrogate, with a double bass player in its ranks, made a big impression, not least Kirsten Elliott (trombone) playing Georgia on My Mind, gave a good, make that great, account of themselves. What were the adjudicators thinking? 

The final band up for examination, from north Yorkshire, Yarm School (MD, Chris Hibbard). Whirly-Bird featuring the saxophone section (Chloe Godfrey, alto sax), Stevie Wonder's Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing (from Innervisions), Chloe Godfrey once again, Kayla Roberts singing At Last and the Average White Band's classic Pick Up the Pieces, Chris Hibbard's young musicians did their school proud. 

It had been a great morning/early afternoon listening to many, many marvellous young musicians. Park View's performance space thronged with family, friends, supporters, big band fans, the lot. The adjudicators' deliberations complete, festival director Bill Watson announced the results as follows:     

                     

Adjudicators' award: Trombone section (St. Aidan's Swing Band)

Adjudicators' award: Chloe Godfrey, alto sax (Yarm School)

Adjudicators' piano award: Pianist (Haberdashers' Abraham Darby Senior Jazz Band)

Best Programme: Wrekin College Jazz Band

Best Section: Rhythm section (Ponteland High School)

Best Soloist: Toby Egerton for Skylark (Wrekin College Jazz Band)

Best Band: Wrekin College Jazz Band   

Russell