The Great North Big Band Jazz Festival - Saturday 1 March

The first of two competition days at the 2025 Great North Big Band Jazz Festival began at noon. Senior bands (all ten of them) competing in the 'open section', were coming to terms with the new reality - the absence of the all-conquering Managers Big Band. Six consecutive victories and then the band from Bolton was gone. 

First to enter the ring, Darlington Big Band (MD, Richie Emmerson). Chick Corea's Spain (Dave Archbold at the piano) the opening shot across the bows. A sound beginning. A Frank Mantooth arrangement of Wave featured Dave Brock (trombone) and bandleader Richie Emmerson on tenor sax. It isn't too often BSH gets to hear Darlington's finest - last year here at the GNBBJF and before that, in December 2023 at Opus 4 Jazz Club. One thing's for sure, the band always puts on a great show.

Durham University Jazz Orchestra (MD, James Grout), not to be confused with Durham University Big Band, opened with an Irving Berlin Winter Weather Medley, following up with a couple of Dave Weckl-Jay Oliver numbers - Carousel and Convergence. From Berlin to Weckl and Oliver, the phrase 'in marked contrast' sprung to mind! All three competition pieces were arranged by DUJO's drummer Janathan Karunakaran. A good set.

The GNBBJF without the participation of Durham Alumni Big Band (MD, Shaune Eland) would be unthinkable. Supporting the festival down the years, as previous winners, the Alumni knew what it would take to take home some silverware. A big band fan of note glanced at the programme and confided in BSH that Parisian Thoroughfare (featuring Jonny Dunn, trumpet, and Dan Johnson, tenor sax), could be one to catch the adjudicators' ear(s). From Bud Powell to John Parricelli's Alfredo (Dunn once more, Paul Donnelly, guitar), the DABB meant business. The late Ted Pearce, for many years the Alumni's pianist, was remembered in a commissioned piece from Matt Roberts. A Weaver of Dreams (a favourite of Mr Pearce) brought a tear to the eye. Win, lose or draw, this was a special moment.

Bay Big Band (MD, Adrian Boardman) from the Morecombe Bay area, can muster the numbers, that's for sure. Shorty Rogers, Rodgers and Hart, the Bay Big Band made the most of the charts, going out on a high with Erik Morales' Out of the Doghouse, Paula Williams catching the ear.                      

Newcastle's Bold Big Band (MD, Brian Wicks) certainly lives up to its name. Bold is the word! MD Brian Wicks is an enthusiast, his enthusiasm shining through, transmitting to bandmates and audience alike. From Super Mario Bros (Pippa Morgan, alto sax) and The Incredibles (it's a millennial thing) to Stan Kenton (Collaboration) and Chick Corea (La Fiesta, Marcus Dawe, piano and Crissi Booth, tenor sax), the Bold boys and girls gave it some. 

Leeds University Union Big Band (MD, Seb Foxwell), the first of two bands from Leeds, presented three numbers, each one a staple of the big band repertoire - Alan Baylock's Torque, Tom Smith's The Light That Shines (bandleader Tom Smith can sell out Ronnie Scott's) and Andy Weiner's Cruisin' for a Bluesin'. James Kinley (trombone) impressed, similarly baritone saxophonist Eli Hayter anchoring the ensemble on Cruisin' for a Bluesin'. 

You can count on Newcastle University Jazz Orchestra (MD, Bhavesh Grover). Long time supporters of the GNBBJF, NUJO arrived in Chester-le-Street with a strong-looking programme. Arturo Sandoval's Sandunga, Neal Hefti's Whirlybird (Olly Styles, tenor sax) and Charles Mingus' E's Flat Ah's Flat Too featuring Sam Toulson blowing some terrific alto sax, this was a good, solid set. What would the adjudicators make of it?

Ribble Valley Jazz Big Band (MD, Paul J Rigby) opened with Bronislaw Kaper's On Green Dolphin Street (MD Rigby on drums). Four tunes later, the Ribble Valley outfit closed with Christopher Columbus, Jack Yerkess impressing on trombone. Another good set.   

GNBBJF director Bill Watson introduced Leeds Conservatoire Students' Union Big Band (MDs, Murray Robinson & Elliot Scribot-Carter) as the band with the longest name! It raised a laugh, then down to business. From Tom Kubis' wittily titled Samba Dees Godda Do It (Jamie Gallagher impressing on tenor sax) to Pat Metheny's Have You Heard (guitarist Charlie Wilberforce digging Metheny) to Yoko Kanno's Tank!, this was one impressive set. 

The tenth and final band of the day featured the mighty Tyne Valley Big Band (MD, Dave Hignett). In excess of twenty musicians on stage, the TVBB doesn't do things by halves. Dave Connolly's arrangement of Hoyt Curtin's much-loved theme tune The Flintstones kick-started the set (Tom Cantwell, guitar, Niall Armstrong, tenor sax). The TVBB marked the 30th anniversary of the global touring phenomenon Riverdance in typical style - all sections giving it some. And to close, local hero Sam Fender's People Watching was given the big band treatment, vocalist Barbara Hignett giving it her all alongside MD  - and trumpet ace - Dave Hignett blowing the roof off the place. If you're listening to the Tyne Valley Big Band you cant be having anything other than a Yabba-dabba doo time! 

The GNBBJF's adjudicators - Mick Donnelly and Rick Laughlin - had put in a long shift. It was time to compare notes. Their deliberations complete, festival director Bill Watson read out the results... Russell                                             

Adjudicators' award: Shaune Eland, MD (Durham Alumni Big Band)

Adjudicators' award: Jamie Gallagher, tenor sax (Leeds Conservatoire Students' Union Big Band) 

Adjudicators' award: Eli Hayter, baritone sax (Leeds University University Big Band)

Adjudicators' award: Performance  & arrangements (Durham University Jazz Orchestra)

Best Programme: Bold Big Band

Best Section: Trombones, Durham Alumni Big Band

Best Soloist: Charlie Wilberforce, guitar (Leeds Conservatoire Students' Union Big Band)

Best Band: Durham Alumni Big Band