Gig review: Edinburgh Festival Jazz Orchestra plays Duke Ellington

Published on Thursday 6 August 2009 18:58

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL JAZZ ORCHESTRA PLAYS DUKE ELLINGTON ***** QUEEN'S HALL, EDINBURGH

THE great big bands in jazz have been led by strong individuals, and have developed a distinctive sound through working with a core of musicians over long periods. Joe Temperley and the gifted players of the Edinburgh Festival Jazz Orchestra demonstrated that while that truism holds, it is also possible to put together a top-class big band on two days' rehearsal – if you ask the right players.

The line-up for the first of their two concerts (the second and very different one is tomorrow night) bristled with familiar faces and virtuoso talents. Baritone saxophonist Joe Temperley directed the band, but in truth there was little for him to do but enjoy the music and make his own potent contributions, including an unusual two-baritone feature with Jay Craig on Drop Me Off In Harlem.

Ellington was a fail-safe choice for this debut, and the band evoked an authentic spirit and sound. Temperley dedicated the concert to his one-time leader and good friend Humphrey Lyttelton, and he would surely have relished every note as much as the players clearly did.

Just listing the memorable solos would fill this space and more – prime examples included Alan Barnes on a gorgeous Isfahan, Bobby Wellins tearing up Stompy Jones, Ryan Kisor on Concerto for Cootie, Temperley and John Allred on Jack The Bear, Phil Bancroft and Phil O'Malley on Caravan and literally everyone on the closing C Jam Blues.

Temperley again brought on guest Carl Majeau for a couple of featured slots on Perdido and Mood Indigo, and the 17-year-old proved not only that can he play, but also that he has nerves of steel. Big band jazz doesn't really get much better.