The last lap of this year's GNBBJF. Best laid plans can go awry. This afternoon they did, go awry, that is. Traffic delays necessitated a shuffling of the pack. Who would be a festival director?! Bill Watson has seen it all before and behind the scenes it was agreed to change the running order.
York Music Forum Youth Jazz Ensemble (MD, Ian Chalk) stepped up, ready to go at a moment's notice. George Cable's Inner Glow (arr. I. Chalk) set the standard, excellent ensemble work with solo contributions from Benedict Nightingale (trombone) and Samuel Jarvis (alto sax). Two further arrangements by the band's MD - Brad Mehldau's When it Rains and Horace Silver's Nutville - put the York outfit in pole position.
Another of Yorkshire's big bands (no fewer than six of them were competing in the youth section), Musica Colne Valley Big Band (MD, James Curgenven), tackled Gordon Goodwin's Jazz Police and Neal Hefti's Splanky, the latter featuring tenor saxophonist Matthew Haley. Yes, the same M. Haley who impressed playing Round Midnight with Musica Youth Jazz. It's the way of it here at Chester-le-Street, some musicians perform with one or more bands!
Musica Shelley Big Band (MD, Simon Mansfield) moved up the order to accommodate the late-running bands. Vocalist Ruby Walker sang Otis Redding's Respect. A well-received performance, it could be a winning one!
Musica Holme Valley Big Band (MD, Gavin Brown) delivered a varied set. From Second Line (Joe Avery's Blues) to MD Gavin Brown's arrangement of Song for My Father to Billie Eilish's Bad Guy, there was something for everyone from the Kirklees outfit (a band with a semi-acoustic guitarist, no less).
DMS Youth Jazz (MD, Billy Bradshaw), the only local band in the youth section (DMS being Durham Music Service), followed Musica Holme with a similarly spirited take on Song for My Father (arr. B. Bradshaw). Outkast's So Fresh, So Clean (arr. B. Bradshaw) did the business with drummer AJ Wild in the groove. Most impressive. MD Bradshaw informed the audience that members of the orchestra enjoyed playing Baker Street. And so they played it. A good set.
We were nearing the end of a most enjoyable afternoon here at Park View Community Centre. One more band to go. Scissett Youth Band (MD, Johnny Beevers). The Scissett band isn't exactly a big band. With so fewer members, did it qualify to participate at the GNBBJF? In short...who cares?! Regular supporters of the GNBBJF, Scissett - two altos, baritone, trumpet and drums - embodies the spirit of jazz, the quintet's set embracing both Mercy, Mercy, Mercy and Bellowhead's Sloe Gin. Yet another good set.
Over to the adjudicators - Messrs Mick Donnelly and Marcus Brown. The super-efficient GNBBJF stage crew prepared the stage one last time for the presentation of the awards. MD Bill Watson read out the results...
Adjudicators' award: Kenneth Howe*
Adjudicators' award: Kirsty Dunn**
Adjudicators' award: Ruby Walker, vocals (Scissett Youth Band)
Adjudicators' award: Matthew Haley, tenor sax (Musica Youth Jazz)
Adjudicators' award: William Ward-Jackson, piano & Dominik Trory, piano (York Music Forum Youth Jazz Ensemble)
Percussion award: ? (Scissett Youth Band)
Percussion award: AJ Wild (Durham Music Service Youth Jazz)
Best Programme: York Music Forum Youth Jazz Ensemble
Best Section: Trumpet section, Musica Shelley Big Band
Best Soloist: Jonah Rowlinson, trumpet (York Music Forum Youth Jazz Ensemble)
Best Band: York Music Forum Youth Jazz Ensemble
* Special award to Kenneth 'Ken' Howe for fundraising activities on behalf of the GNBBJF.
** Special award to Kirsty Dunn for services to the GNBBJF and music in County Durham.
Russell
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