Joe
Steels (guitar); Ferg Kilsby (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ben Lawrence (piano); Andy
Champion (double bass); John Hirst (drums)
Earlier, the evening's double bill finale presented performance by a north of England super group. Northumberland Jazz Festival organiser Joe Steels assembled a quintet which could hold its own in any company. As is his wont, Joe Steels opted to stand to one side rather take centre stage. Seven compositions, all of them written by bandleader and guitarist Steels, were new to the majority, if not all, in the Queen's Hall auditorium. Ben Lawrence occupied the piano stool, trumpeter Ferg Kilsby stood between pianist and guitarist, with the bass and drums dream team of Andy Champion and local lad John Hirst working away in the engine room.
Steels introduced each number, the first of them inspired by family walks 'round the block'. A Blue Patch had a certain lilt to it (Kilsby sitting out), Lawrence brought in Between the Stars (a fine pianist is BL) with Kilsby playing flugelhorn. Melodicism is at the heart of Steels' writing and Lady Day (an homage to Billie Holiday) proved to be a mellow highlight. Witching Hour changed gear as the quintet (a band of first rate soloists) stretched out. Impressive. Russell
Set list: Round the Block; A Blue Patch; Between the Stars; Lady Day; Witching Hour; Borestone; These are the Days.
No comments :
Post a Comment