The Sound of Blue Note - Riverside Arts Jazz

Paul Jordanous

Sound of Blue Note

Jac Jones - saxophone
Paul Jordanous - trumpet
Terence Collie - piano
Dave Jones - bass
Matthew Skeaping - drums

Date - 10th December 2017
Venue - Riverside Arts Centre, Sunbury-on-Thames, UK

Matthew Skeaping

Future Mood Indigo events
JANUARY
07 Riverside Arts Jazz - Jim Mullen
19 Posk - Featuring Duncan Eagles - saxophone, Becky Morse – vocals
FEBRUARY
04 Riverside Arts Jazz - The Music of Michael Garrick
MARCH
04 Riverside Arts Jazz - "Smokin’ At the Half Note" feat. Nigel Price
APRIL
15 Riverside Arts Jazz - Jo Harrop "Anita O’Day - The Verve Years"

The last Riverside Arts Jazz concert of 2018 defied the sleet and snow to present a warm and sweet night of Jazz. Buoyed by mulled wine and mince pies the packed audience were completed absorbed by a repertoire of tunes prised from the Blue Note vaults. Eschewing the usual Blue Note fayre, they presented a plate of light and delicious amuse-bouche rather than the greedy gorging of a 30lb 'hard bop' turkey.

Dave Jones

Despite the presence of Paul Jordanous, who had jetted in after recently touring with Rag'n'Bone Man, this wasn't a night for showboating nor headliners. It was a performance of balance and poise. The rich warmth that spread through the body wasn't just the Riverside Arts' efficient heating system but a familiarity with the music, the musicians themselves, and a genuine sense of community. Generously fostered by Terence Collie and Janet McCunn.

Jac Jones

Historically, Blue Note has principally been associated with the "hard bop" style of jazz. Horace Silver, Jimmy Smith, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Art Blakey, Grant Green, Hank Mobley, Wayne Shorter, Bobby Hutcherson and Jackie McLean were among the label's leading artists. Founded in 1939 by Alfred Lion, Francis Wolff and Max Margulis it continues to be influential to jazz musicians today. Not only does the music live on but also the design, photography and graphic art that helped sell albums throughout the world.

Terence Collie

Terrence Collie has been playing music since he was 10 years old. He is mainly self taught, learning tunes by ear playing along with the record and learning to improvise. He has done formal studies with the Open University and Berklee and has been lucky enough to play with a whole host of musicians over the years in many different genres from rock, soul, funk, blues, reggae, latin to swing. He is currently running and hosting many jazz nights in south west London and playing regularly at some of the best jazz venues in the South of England, both with his own group Prison Break or as a sideman with others. He is also the co-founder of the successful TW12Jazz Festival. He is going to record a trio album in January 2018.

Terence Collie the Conkerer

Jac Jones - Tenor Saxophone

All too often we cannot see what is right under our noses and I'm as guilty as the next man. Last month (16/02/2014) I took the long train ride down to the south coast to see South West London's Prison Break at the Southampton Modern Jazz Club. Again it is with regret that I do not venture out enough to hear live music in these rich pockets beyond the M25.

A series of near misses had whetted my appetite for Prison Break, a long list of dates including Terence Collie on piano had evaded me but it was the boss of the SMJC, Ted Carrasco, that persuaded me to go the extra mile and see the quartet. For me it was a 4 tune set that chose equally from their 2 album/e.ps, "And Again" and "Doing Time".

Terence Collie - Piano

Straight-in was Jac Jones, thick and meaty on "Jinxed". An uncompromising gambit and a showcase for a talent that is unassuming, even apologetic in its demeanour. The Bent Brief, where the SMJC resides was modestly full, with an equal share of the sexes it was neither edgy nor buzzing but respectful.

There was more sparkle up next in the lyrical piano of Terence Collie on "One Year On". Smooth and effortless, it was almost a homage to the engineer (and altoist) who originally helped record it at Clown's Pocket Studios, Derek Nash. Repeating melodies on saxophone cast salty waves over us and reminded us that the sea lurked somewhere nearby in the dark. It was Collie who started to shine through. He has a gaze that wilts you at a thousand paces when he is in the zone, the term furrowed brow does not do him justice, more corrugated in its intensity.

John Sam - Drums

My attention was taken by the night's drummer on "Prison Break Blues", whether this says more about his powerful presence than the tune I do not know. Joe Sam has a deceptively subtle edge for a man who looks like he has been in a few scrapes, but with a brow to match Collie you wouldn't want to get caught in a staring contest between the two.

Joe Sam - Bass

The most impressive tune was "Niner Blues" which features the rich and energetic bass of Joe Sam and just enough touch from brother John on drums. Deceptively mysterious with a whiff of North African wonder in sax melody it builds from a gentle Terence Collie solo until it couldn't contain itself any longer. Thrusting and direct by the end, the bass of Joe Sam had an earthy thumping tone like a 5 ton horse chestnut falling from a tree. If this tune was indeed a conker it would be far more than a Niner, it would be pickled in vinegar and baked in the oven before reaching triple figures at least. Collie has every right to prowl the playground with this tune in his pocket and a composition in a head that resembles the bronze patina of a prize nut.

A few more trips are planned to the SMJC this year, I see that Paul Jordanous plays there on the 22nd June. Unfortunately I'll be missing the TW12 Jazz Festival (3rd August) this year where you'll be able to hear Prison Break at their best.

AL.