WITH belting rain over much of Yorkshire, the final day of the Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival enjoyed bright sunshine on Sunday, cue for picnics, suntan lotion and knotted hankies on heads. On the main stage, pianist Rob Law’s Quintet sparkled.

New Orleans barrel-house, boogie and blues followed with Tipitina and the Professor Longhair song, New Orleans Mardi Gras, had barefoot dancers stomping the historic lawn. “Here come the Manic Street Pensioners,” someone murmured, noting the age of the cavorting figures. Debbie Jones won appreciation with her strong, soulful voice and guitar on such driving groovers as Rockin’ Pneumonia, plus head-long boogie from piano-man Justin. One of the warmest welcomes was for third band up on the main stage, Djangologie, with Hot Club of France swing and favourite guitarist Jim Birkett.

The big finish on Sunday came from York saxophonist Ben Beattie and his youthful After Midnight Band. Joined by Burton Agnes owner Simon Cunliffe-Lister, they launched into good-time swingers It Don’t Mean A Thing and Green Onions and rounded off with a punk-jazz version of Night Train, ending a perfect day.

Regular sessions this week are:

Tonight: Mardi Gras Band. Middleton’s Hotel, Skeldergate, 8.30pm.

Saturday: Yorkshire Stompers, Jazz in the Spa, 8pm (01973 844898).

Sunday: John Marley/Paul Smith, Kennedy’s Café Bar, Little Stonegate, 1pm; Firebird Quartet, Phoenix Inn, George Street, 8.30pm; Jen Low and Karl Mullen, Rook and Gaskill, 8.30pm.

Monday: Kate Peters Quartet, Phoenix Inn, George Street, 8.30pm.

Wednesday: Jazz Jam, Phoenix Inn, George Street, 8.30pm; Kier Hall Trio, Zizzi’s Restaurant, Lendal, 7.30pm; Frank Brooker’s Happy Chappies, Scarborough Jazz, Cask Inn, Cambridge Terrace, 8pm (01723 500570).

 

REVIEW

McCormack & Yarde Duo Featuring Elysian Quartet, Juntos (Joy and Ears Records)

THE guitar and double bass are the main stringed instruments heard in jazz, but neither are present here.

Stuff Smith and Stephane Grapelli have been recognised as bona fide jazz violinists and the Elysian Quartet has two, plus viola and cello and on the opening track Nice Cup of Tea they join McCormack’s piano in an up-beat, syncopated, rhythmic melody, with interjections by Yarde’s saxophone. A similar device on Ob’s 1st Adventure has call and response between pizzicato and bowed strings. The playing is beautifully accomplished, but more as densely constructed chamber music.

Overall, the album features angular, oblique melodies alternating with legato, impressionistic pieces and forays into free jazz. The jazz duo/string quartet liaison has something of the 1950s and 1960s Third Stream experiments, a joining of jazz with European composed music. Unfortunately, the results were seldom embraced by either jazzers or classicists.

To ears attuned to jazz and the American songbook, From Then On and Always Of You on this album come closest to conventional melodies. More adventurous ears than your writer`s may find rewards in Juntos.