Varsity Big Bands’ Battle

Tuesday 22nd February 2011, 11pm, The ADC, £6

[rating:4.5/5]

What an incredible evening of big band jazz – but let me say – Cambridge are a cut and a half above Oxford; my God they are.

We walked in to find the ADC forestage dropped, so the band was on two levels: we could see (and hear) everything.  First up big band OUJO were already sat and waiting, and a big band it was too: rhythm section including guitar and electric upright, four trumpets, five trombones (but no bass) and six (yes six) saxes. Oh and a flute on top of all that. They were wearing some black and blue ‘smart clothes’, but looking a little dishevelled (of course) and chatting like kids before the teacher enters, music and stands everywhere. Not a great first impression, but then, it’s about the music.

I was angry, OUJO were very good. Hats off to the bari sax player, who boldly began the whole set with an improvised opening cadenza accompanied only by some cymbal swooshes, before kicking in to the riff of Moanin’ by Charles Mingus. My favourite soloist of the evening came from OUJO, the lovely, wet, breathy tenor sax soloist in a few of the numbers – seriously mature tone and brilliant improv skills. By far my favourite of the numbers was the Pat Metheny tune Minuano, which had way more pizzazz and energy than Bob Curnow’s original, and showed off OUJO’s tightness even over difficult rhythms and between all the sections.

However, don’t get me wrong. We were all amazed at just how much better CUJO were from the moment they busted out their first number. Wearing matching black shirts embroidered with the logo, and a traditionally sized (smaller) band, they made not only a tighter sound but also such a louder sound, with sensational dynamics – and they didn’t even have a conductor. I’ve heard CUJO before, but tonight, gold sparkling under the lights of the ADC stage something magical happened.

I practically jizzed myself when the unaccompanied harmonised sax choir break came in the first number, Count Bubba by Gordon Goodwin (off of The Incredibles). By the sound of things, so did a couple of people near me, just incredible tightness and virtuosic playing. Just when people were catching their breath back, the stunning figure of Phoebe Haines waltzed in, wearing one of her infamously short (but trust me, fabulous) dresses.  A consummate performer and gorgeously talented vocalist, she took the band to a whole new level of orgasmic delight. Bitch.

The number that stuck in my mind was the Sonny Rollins arrangement, which sounded like the soundtrack to the video game XIII.  Beginning with a startling kind of ‘w-t-f’ dissonance, it slowly descended into a classy, exciting number with a beefy sound and some incredible crescendos. The piano player deserves a particular mention, who really outshone the OUJO player in improv skills and general musicianship, contributing a lot to the sound with some funky harmony and at times leading the band as well.

Basically, a rip-roaring sell-out night. I would challenge even the most hardened music-hating, Cindies-loving moron not to get infected with the funk that night. CUJO were – well I needed a stiff drink afterwards that’s all I’m saying.  It’s hard to know how much of a battle it was – everyone seemed very friendly and there was no judge or official winner, but really we all knew who came out top. Cambridge, it was Cambridge.