Caught two excellent sets at the UK Cheltenham Jazz Festival on Saturday. Uri Caine was the artist in residence and performed on each day. I hoped to catch Bedrock or Mahler but could only make one day so I saw The Goldberg Variations. Very impressive performance by Uri Caine piano, Barbara Walker vocals, Ralph Alessi trumpet, Chris Speed saxophones, Joyce Hammann Violin, Tim Lefebvre bass, Zach Danziger drums, DJ Olive decks. The real star performance came in the evening with Dave Douglas and the Freak In band. The line up was: Dave Douglas trumpet, Seamus Blake tenor saxophone, David Gilmore guitar, Jamie Saft wurlitzer, Ikue Mori electronic percussion, Brad Jones bass, Derrek Phillips drums. The amplification of the drums was poor making them muddy which did not help understand what Ikue Mori was doing down in the mix. I was also not overly impressed by Seamus Blake who held his place but didn't blow me away. However, this is a band that is on fire. They are clearly still new to the material which, in places, is awkward to play. Blake, Saft, Gilmore and Jones were reading all the heads and there were signs of relief when particularly fiendish sections passed sounding fine. Dave Douglas has taken to prowling the stage cueing and urging on soloists not unlike another trumpeter a few years ago. The result is that the Freak In material has moved away from the careful cut and paste of the studio and really stretches out fuelled by the enthusiasm of a band fresh to it. If they are coming to your area go and see them. Apparently the BBC recorded the Sunday night London gig and it is going out on Jazz on 3 (available as a webcast) in a couple of weeks time. Final point, Mr Douglas told the audience it was a joy to play with such an amazing bunch of musicians. He was the fool. There was a pause and he said not as big a fool as our president. Another pause. Did you hear what happened to the Dixie Chicks? If that happens to me I will feel it is an honour.