Reviews

PLAY IT COOL, YET ONE MORE TIME

Alastair Noakes on Tuesday Night Live November 2024

I’m not alone am I, in thinking that Christmas seems to come earlier every year? The cold snap, an early dusting of snow, the adverts on the telly….

Well on Tuesday night it really did come early for the 100 or so present who were lucky enough to be at Tuesday Night Live at Heswall Hall. For what can be better than to spend time with friends embraced in a blanket of rich tones, and rhythms from a fully blown professional Jazz Orchestra.  

The beauty of Out of the Blue Jazz Orchestra is that they give you something different every month. Last Tuesday we were totally spoilt. Like kids on Christmas morning, we were treated to not only one fabulous professional percussionist, but two. Charlie Ashby (who’s performed with the true greats of the pop world) brought along his equally talented friend Brian Hargreaves and they accompanied and jammed like whirlwinds. The end result was uncanny; for as the evening progressed, their expertise, their infectious vibes swept so quickly through the room, that the audiences instantly felt it, showed it and responded in kind. Indeed, they gave back in spades. Like osmosis, through their smiles and mutual appreciation, like the spread of the latest tik tok sensation, the evening took off. Subconsciously, the warmth exuded on stage had travelled from player to player, from audience member to audience member, even to the very ticket collectors at the back, as they too joined in, in dance and applause like I’ve never seen before. If someone were to have offered me a ticket to Lapland that night, you know what, I’d have declined, for the drug that is this music is the coolest on the block. Say nothing to the authorities but I suspect the band are clear users, the audience are hooked and I’m a jazz junky too.  

Back in November Becky, the band’s charismatic leader tried something quite different. It is her prerogative after all. She conducted an improvised Q and A session on stage with her two guest professional percussionists.  It brought a touch of fun, many unexpected laughs from all around and was intermixed with Becky’s own crazy musical stories from her past. If variety is the spice of life, well play on….. and the band did, in style. We had easy rhythm to start, latin up next, then finally, upbeat funk to finish – all in all, something for everyone.   

Now if you think this style of Jazz is more for old foggies like me, then think again. Impressively and breaking the mould to some extent its attracting even younger and more talented players. Out of the Blue Jazz Orchestra have their own rising stars. Jacob Arrowsmith is in his early twenties, yet he plays the full range of saxophones plus clarinet thrown in, and he plays each in a style which is one moment seductive melancholy, the next scatty, up- tempo funk. The skill is, that he does it with ease and without hint of any wild brashness. Remember Jacob Arrowsmith – he’s one for the future.  

Next up we have - on bass Joe Leedale, a cool guy who can riff and pluck like no other. On acoustic there’s Andrew Millar who jams – and reaches heights of melodic sophistication which seems barely possible. Throw them all into the melting pot of rich timing and harmonic phrasing from a full blown band in perfect synch and you have the ideal Jazz Orchestra.

Oh I’m in danger of forgetting Joan, the band’s regular female singer who’s timing and tone are so richly seductive that she’s become a true favourite with all the many regulars, the groupies who are growing by the month.

So, if you’re wondering what to get your loved one this Christmas….. if you’re out of ideas and want an experience like no other, then why not try Out of the Blue Jazz Orchestra this festive season. They next perform – Tuesday 17th December, 7pm at Heswall Hall. Go on, become a jazz junky like me but be warned its dangerously fun and seriously addictive.