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| © Ken Drew |
Having said Vaya Con Dios to North Shields Sue Ferris made her way up river to the Globe where JNE featured her quintet in a well-attended hard-bop blowing session. Just as the trad fans savour a trumpet, trombone, clarinet, traps, tuba and banjo line-up, I experience a similar feeling when presented with a tenor, trumpet, piano, bass, drums and no banjo ensemble.
SFQ didn't disappoint, putting the boot in from the off with Clifford Brown's Sandu. A great start that got even better as the instruments (and the players) warmed to the task. Paul Edis' cleverly titled McCoin a Phrase followed with solos all round which was the general format for the gig.
Hardy switched to flugel for Song For my Father - such a beautiful tone. Sue had been playing the whole nine yards earlier in the day moving from baritone to piccolo with ease. At the Globe, tenor was her instrument of choice ripping off the runs with the sprightliness of a new born lamb on the first day of spring.
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| © Ken Drew |
Sonny Rollins' Pent-Up House was a real blast with everyone flying by the seat of their pants and no casualties. John Bradford, fresh from his Great North Run triumph (he completed the course), knocked seven shades out of the kit. He's The Man these days.
After a short interval the second set kicked off with Opus de Funk - the groove was in. Nica's Dream has long been a favourite of mine - I just love that middle eight bit where it moves from the ethereal, eastern feel to some powerhouse blowing.
Another original from Ben Lawrence. All his creativity must have gone into the music as all he had left for the title was Ben's Tune! Still, what's in a name? That which we call Ben's Tune would swing as much by any other name.
Horace Silver's Jody Grind once more had all five going for broke. Some sensational blowing from Graham with Sue only a cat's whisker beind (or was it vice versa?) Andy Champion, as ever,on the money throughout.
One Hand, One Heart from West Side Story featured Graham on flugel before the grand finale - Roy Hargrove's Soppin' the Biscuit.
Outside it was raining but, after a session like this, it took more than a torrential shower to dampen my spirits plus it's good, they tell me, for the garden. Lance
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