Kelvin Christiane Big Band - The Cabbage Patch

Ian Smith - trumpet

We were pressed in tighter than a sardine sandwich last week (02/02/2015) at the Cabbage Patch Pub to launch the first Big Band night at Twickenham Jazz Club's new home. Not only was it rammed full of keen audience members but a 16 strong Big Band to boot.



Bob McKay -
Saxes

With its warm and welcoming ambience I think the word 'cosy' might be an understatement to describe this night but don't think this was pipe and slippers fare in the Patchworks bar. The heat comes from those manly perspiring musos and the red hot tunes fired relentlessly into eager jazz lovers.



Noel Joyce - drums

If you have never been before, then a Big Band night comes with a heavy recommendation, if not for the music then for the interaction and dynamism of the band. Four banks of musicians line up before you. Piano, bass and drums are relegated to the back, carolled behind the standing trumpeters who teeter above them. In front of the trumpets sat four trombones and the those in the vanguard were the saxophones.

Chris Lowe - Trombone

Benny Golson's 'Whisper Not' was certainly an understatement as the front row of the audience felt the full blast of the saxophones, who sat just inches away. The equally apt 'Nutville' (Horace Silver) was next and if you hadn't already guessed it there is a dark and infectious humour that rolls around a Big Band. Kelvin Christiane's band is no exception, and where there is humour they'll be a few headcases too. Against the grain was Chris Lowe who is composure and elegance personified. His trombone solo was as neat and debonair as his attire.



Nick Mills - Trombone

It was the Christiane penned 'Spring Lullaby' next, if you were expecting to be rocked asleep then hold onto your gunnels because night time in Kelvin Christiane's mind is both dark and turbulent. Nick Mills (trombone), Pete Hurt (sax) and KC himself all featured. Despite the tune appearing on Christiane's Parisian Summer album this feels and smells strongly of mid-century USA. The Continental Op chewing gum, a long night, perhaps a killer in the shadows but most certainly there's a deliberate and powerful punch to conclude this pulp fiction yarn.

Damian Cook -
Soprano

Damian Cook (soprano saxophone) and Pete Hurt (flute) featured proudly on the Stevie Wonder tune 'You've got it bad girl' before we indulged ourselves in another Twickenham Jazz Club favourite, 'Joy Spring'. It was here that I spied one of a series of new faces to me. Pianist Jim Treweek started this Clifford Brown tune with fluidity and dexterity, one might even say playful.



Jim Treweek - piano

Jim Treweek shone again on 'Toothless Grin' (John LaBarbera), his pearly whites radiated from the rear of the Cabbage Patch stage. This was an on-your-toes performance, started by Bob McKay on flute, which then pulsed into a rolling mass, happily careering under its own momentum. The Kelvin Christiane Big Band were a carnival float cascading down a San Francisco descent, and we were more than happy to hitch a lift.

Jonathan Lewis - Trumpet

The second set was opened by hostess Lesley Christiane with Gershwin's ''S Wonderful' and Bart Horward's 'Fly me to the moon'. It was a time to sit back and take in the full impact of the Big Band that rose up behind Madame Christiane. Ian Smith with his 'Milk Tray Man' turtleneck and Charles Dance visage caught the discerning eye.

Stuart Brooks - Trumpet

It is often the trumpeters who end up in my sketchbook, two with contrasting styles are Stuart Brooks whose trumpet projects out to the audience at right angles to the stage, while Jonathan Lewis' has a severe case of Brewers Droop. Do not doubt his virility though, he has enough punch in that trumpet to take you to heaven and back. Matt Yardley amply completed the quartet with equal force and power.

Richard Sadler
Bass

The penultimate tune of the night was Buddy Rich's Groovin' Hard, it strutted and skipped straight into it's stride like a Man-about-town. It was dapper. It had a purpose, a mission, a raison d'etre even, but lets not sound too pretentious. The man about Twickenham is of course local bassist Richard Sadler, who has, with one slice of his razor relinquished his Lord Lucan looks in favour of a clean cut approach.



Martin Nickless
Sax & Clarinet

It is a failing of mine to be too light hearted with the talents of these accomplished musicians but sometimes they add the grist to the mill themselves. Tonight though the Kelvin Christiane's Big Band were the essence of focussed zeal, Brotherhood and togetherness. There was not a breath of hot air in their final tune "Wind Machine". It was as punchy as anything rumbling off the Siberian steppes. Which prepared everyone nicely for their walk home.
 
AL.

Chris Gower - Trombone

Dave Eaglestone - Trombone

Matt Yardley - trumpet

Pete Hurt - flute & sax



Stuart Green
Cabbage Patch landlord
and sound engineer.



Kelvin Christiane - Big Band Jackals

Paul Jordanous - Streamline

A health bunch of chapped die-hards braved the elements to be at Twickenham Jazz Club last Tuesday (02/04/2013). The streets were deserted as the wind whipped up the Staines Road, whether the endless winter had taken its toll on the usual suburban nightwalkers or that fathers had locked up their daughters because the Big Band was in town is anyone's guess. It is true though that many a young filly has fallen for the charms of a large ensemble.

As you might know Big Bands are usually made up of hungry young men, both the Callum Au and Jonathan Bird bands represent swathes of charming lotharios once the alcohol starts to flow. I'm sure individually they are more like supine tom cats who's bellies need rubbing, than the jackals they become in the pack environment.

Kelvin Christiane

Even though we had just passed the Vernal Equinox there weren't many spring chickens in The Kelvin Christiane Big Band this evening, so the lithe beauties of Twickenham were safe. Kelvin Christiane is a quiet measured band leader, more of a bingo caller type, endlessly announcing chart numbers to his faithful bunch. Never the magician, no waving hands, although he did conjure a moment of warm hope with Clifford Brown's 'Joy Spring'.

The size of the KC Big Band meant they spilled into the audience and we sat mere inches away from the first wave of musicians, The Saxophones. Even accompanied by fellow artists Zoran Matic and Trevor Stokes I knew this was going to be a major challenge drawing all 16 personalities, so I broke them down into smaller packs.

Stuart Brooks

Graham Russell

 The Trumpeters (inc. Stuart Brooks & Graham Russell), occupied the third phalanx, and they caught my eye. All chunky individuals, obviously packing a punch, like four post shift cops straight off the streets of San Francisco  . More than once a joke or quip rippled along the line. They played hard, wielding their trumpets like Berettas.
Paul Jordanous was impressive, clean shaven and streamline, buoyant after his recent live recording (rumour has it for a second album) at The Bull's Head. Almost unrecognisable without his trademark blue floppy jumper his new 88 Bar Jam is clearly rejuvenating the Undisputed Bon Viveur of Jazz.



Tony Dixon - Sweeney

The main man was Tony Dixon, with his lamb leg forearms and tough-guy moustache he looks like he just stepped off the set of The Sweeney. You wouldn't want to mess with a man who has buns packed so tightly in nylon slacks. It was obviously too much for Noel Joyce on drums, seated just behind, who constantly had to avert his eyes to look point blank at The Bloomsbury's bamboo décor.



Noel Joyce - Drums

For most of the performance the rear guard were hidden from me but I managed to catch a glimpse of Mike Higgins (bass) and Graeme Taylor (keys) who must also have caught a glimpse of Dixon's firm credentials.



Also hidden were the trombones who were seated behind the front line saxophones.

Chris Lowe

They popped up regularly for the audience to see, excelling on tunes like Count Bubba's Revenge (with Paul Jordanous), and I was able to quickly sketch a dapper Chris Lowe, followed by 'young Miff Mole' lookalike Adrian Fry. It must be hard for all big band trombonists, so often they sit behind the saxes, with barely enough room to extend their instrument. So when they get the chance to stand up they resemble Medieval archers with a chance to fire out their tunes through the arrow slitted Saxmen's shoulders.

Nick Mills

Dave Eaglestone

Neither Trombonists Nick Mills or Dave Eaglestone resembled slight archers though, the former is a bear of a man, who was bathed in blue and purple light when playing his solo.

The tunes were of the highest calibre I particularly enjoyed Maynard Ferguson's 'Superbone meets the Badman'.

A final word must go to the
Saxophones and it was heartening to see a peach bespectacled Bob Martin back in the groove with a final solo on 'A Night in Tunisia'. It was a grown up Sax line with Kelvin playing softly in the shadows while his neighbour Pete Hurt took the role of Big Band patriarch.

Pete Hurt

Hurt completed the image with greying hair, cardigan and a playing style that looks like he is smoking a two foot pipe out of the side of his mouth.

Pete Cook - Baritone

The final members of The Saxophone pack sat just a few feet in front of me, Mike Coates and Pete Cook both bolstered the already impressive decibel levels and more than once left my ears ringing in those quiet seconds between a tune's denouement and the audience's appreciation.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself but then I like a challenge, and sketching all 16 musicians is hard work. It meant I didn't get a chance to chat with Lister and The Dudes on the table behind me, but the good news is they've completed the Twickenham Jazz Club website (LINK HERE) with all the future dates.

I got back home and checked my daughters were tucked up in bed safe and sound. Although I trusted Kelvin Christiane's Big Band jackals who knows where another pack of them might be roaming. In fact I hope to be sketching either the Jonathan Bird or Paul Jordanous variety soon.

AL

Bob Martin

Mike Coates

Graeme Taylor

Adrian Fry

Mike Higgins