Stu Collingwood - Side Café

Stu Collingwood (pno), Neil Harland (bs), Malcolm Dick (dms).

The ambience just wasn't there tonight and this is no reflection on the Stu Collingwood Trio. The room was colder than Consett and the audience, possibly because of a half-term exodus by the student element, was prominent by its absence. Difficult to be creative in such a climate but, to their credit, the band played well and by the second set had found a good groove.

Standards such as "I Hear A Rhapsody" and a reflective "My Funny Valentine" as well a stomping "There Will Never Be Another You" (in the alphabet' quipped Stu.) and a blast on "Airegin" hit the spot.

Several good originals, the names of which escape me, also impressed.

Malcolm Dick, depping for Steve Wall, displayed the skills that have made him a member of the percussion aristocracy, whilst Neil Harland was, as ever, the backbone of any ensemble he plays in.

Lance