Jazz in my Pants - JIMP
Anyone visiting Durham city this month will not be able to
avoid the huge range of live music echoing around this historic city, for
this is the Month of Brass. We ventured into the city on Saturday and had an
amazing wander around the bustling streets. For what felt like the first
time in ages we had a warm, sunny & dry day; the crowds were all smiling
and the live entertainment just added to the feeling that we had just come
through a 3 week storm; I guess in fact, we had.
After walking down Silver Street and over & back over the
bridge we headed to the Gala square, initially for something to eat but as we
approached we found we were just in time to catch one of the funkiest groups
I've seen in ages - Jazz in my Pants (even the name is enough to raise a
chuckle).
This gang of brilliant young musicians have taken the core
essence of a jazz brass ensemble and pumped it full of funk, soul, sass and
cool - all at the same time - their repetoire is like taking a trip through the
history of modern music with the Beatles (as a funk/soul waltz), Queen, Madness
and then a fabulous rendition of a real classic Blues with
Laurie providing an amazing impression of Louis Armstrong - this has to be
seen/heard to be believed that such a 'nice' looking young man (ok, there were
many in the audience who called him downright cute) can then come out with the
raw, growling, gravelly voice of Ol Satchmo himself.
Whilst Laurie provided this vocal solo, JIMP is very much
an ensemble performance, everyone has a key part to play and it's all delivered
with a genuine sense that JIMP are having just as much fun as the
audience. They are all very, very talented musicians who clearly spend a
lot of time planning and rehearsing their set and it shows in the fluidity and
tightness of their playing.
Definitely worth seeking them out during the Durham Brass
2012, I defy anyone not to be tapping & clapping along while you marvel at
the just how good Drum & Brass can sound.
Go get some Jazz in your pants !
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