Tim Garland's Northern Underground Orchestra
DAVID WAKEFIELD Norwich Arts Centre
DAVID WAKEFIELD
Norwich Arts Centre
“We're having an absolute ball on this tour,” declared Tim Garland - and that was even before this terrific gig kicked off. And it transpired that we, the audience, had quite a ball, too.
Garland, multi-reed expert and project leader extraordinaire, heads a number of ensembles, but none, surely, better than this punchy 14-piece outfit that proved to be right on the money for its precision playing of some outstanding arrangements.
Much of the material was taken from the band's new album, Due North, and the opening number, Richard Iles's Toon Town, got the evening off to a rip-roaring start.
The standard never dropped, with tight ensembles, fine soloing and, suitably for Halloween, a touch of humour with musicians vying to introduce suitable “quotes”.
Most Read
- 1 'God's waiting room' - Norfolk town is country's pensioner hotspot
- 2 Aircraft to commemorate Battle of Britain to fly over Norfolk's sky
- 3 'It's just not viable anymore' - Pub near Great Yarmouth closes
- 4 'He could've gone all the way' - Mum's tribute to aspiring boxer, 19
- 5 Readers reveal top 10 fish and chips - but the battle is on for top spot
- 6 Tyson Fury is making a comeback to Gorleston
- 7 Lloyds to close bank in Norwich suburb
- 8 Two Norfolk spots named among best places in Britain for a weekend break
- 9 Norfolk worst area in UK for uninsured and untaxed drivers
- 10 Person banned from driving arrested after crashing into pedestrian crossing
The solos came thick and fast with Gwilym Simcock, Andy Schofield and Paul Booth showing their paces, and virtuoso guitarist Mike Walker hitting John Scofield heights on Terminal X. Soul diva Hannah Jones proved to be the vocal icing on the cake.
We don't get many top-class big bands in Norwich, and this is one that should return as soon as possible.