Ben Crosland (semi-accoustic
bass guitar); Rod Mason (soprano/tenor/alto saxes): Dean Stockdale (piano);
Dave Tyas (drums)
This year's
Newcastle Jazz Festival may have been knocked back until next year but, judging
by the gigs across the region these past few days, you wouldn't have thought
so.
Thursday, the
choice was between American alto player Brad Linde at the Globe or his fellow
countryman trumpet player Theo Croker at the Glasshouse. Two American names in
Newcastle on the same night!
On Friday, another
great altoist, Spain's Luis Verde, played a lunchtime gig at the Lit & Phil
then hightailed it down the A1(M) to Darlington for an evening gig at Opus 4.
Alternatively, you could have taken the road less travelled to Sunderland
where the Zoë Gilby Trio were spreading their message at the Seventeen Nineteen
(1719).
Saturday night if you'd just got paid you could have ripped it up with Snake Davis and Helen Watson at Chopwell Community Centre then, to round off the 'festival', Sunday night at the Globe beckoned...did it not!
The Crosland Quartet didn't just hit the deck running, they cracked a few Olympic records in the process when Mason blew the soprano solo to end all soprano solos on a piece, appropriately titled Break a Leg. The gauntlet was down and Stockdale picked it up. Mason's portly presence may have obscured the pianist from view but it didn't dampen his sound. A round or two of fours saw Tyas kicking seven shades out of the kit whilst Crosland's choice of instrument made for a smoother harmonic foundation.
Metheny's Hermitage had
Mason on tenor blowing like as though we were on the eve of Armageddon and, if
we are, I can't think of a better way to go. No, not even that way!
Next up was former
Steps Ahead composer and arranger Don Grolnick's Faulty Tenors.
Grolnick's works were well-showcased tonight with Uncle Bob and Cost
of Living also played. On Faulty Tenors Mason
stuck both alto and tenor into his gob for a brief excursion to Roland Kirk
territory.
Crosland got my
vote when he spoke affectionately of his two cats, Billie and
Lester, composing a tune a-piece for them. Billie's Blessing purred
gently whilst Lester Lopes Out, with its Pink Panther-like feel,
suggested more of a predatory prowler.
Another of the
leader's likes is the music of the Kinks' Ray Davies. He chose Set Me
Free which was on an album dedicated to the band and reviewed back in
2016 HERE.
I could go on and
on waxing eloquently about this gig but I think by now you'll have got the
message that it was something special.
Break a
Leg; Hermitage; Faulty Tenors; Duke's Anthem; Billie's
Blessing; Uncle Bob; Sunshine and Snow; Set Me Free; Lester
Lopes Out; Powfoot; Cost of Living; Mr Fone Bone.
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