Alan Glen Trio Take it to the Bridge One More Time.

Alan Glen (pno), Jim Crinson (bs), David Carnegie (dms).

-----

Dave Weisser (tpt/vcl), Doug Fielder (ten), Barrie Ascroft (pno), Jim Crinson (bs), Mathew Office (gtr), Eric Stutt (dms).

-----

There are some nice things that happen monthly. Counteracting the bills there are things like a favourite magazine dropping through the letterbox, your paycheck going into the bank, the wife going to stay with her mother for a few days; an endless list. My monthly fix is when the Alan Glen Trio play the Chilli.

This is always an eagerly anticipated event even if tonight raised some initial doubts.

Doubts, I hasten to add, that were hastily dispelled.

In a nutshell, Pope, John, couldn't make the gig - presumably he had some Papal duties to perform - and regular Chilli Bull fiddle man Jim Crinson stepped into the breach totally unrehearsed.

The 'boy' did good! Jim handled everything that was dished up and emerged with his reputation untarnished.

Love For Sale, I Should Care, a Glen original entitled Big Deal in Ocho-Rios, Alone Together, What's New, It Could Happen to You and Autumn Leaves. A set list to salivate over and when played by Maestro Glen it is as near to perfection as you'll get on a cold night in Heaton (substitute Heaton with anywhere).

The flurry of notes, the (seemingly) eleven fingered chords, the sheer inventiveness of his improvisations - his fingers leave few notes untouched as he shows what can be done with the well-tempored klaviarchord - all serve to remind me why each monthly visit from the trio is eagerly awaited. Anyone with a modicum of interest in jazz should have been here tonight to witness an artist re-writing modern jazz piano.

David Carnegie, once again, as he did with Extreme Measures on Sunday, demonstrated his all-round versatility (of which we'll hear more).

Jim Crinson? He came off that stage a star.

Earlier, the Take it to the Bridge gang had played a set that had Dave working out on My Foolish Heart - he really got his chanting chops into this one.

Doug played a gentle, probing, tenor solo round the sequence keeping the mood going whilst, on guitar, young Mathew also had his say. I think Dave should let Matt play a trio/quartet feature with the rhythm section, give him a chance to fly.

In the final set the band did things to In Your Own Sweet Way and Whisper Not before David Carnegie returned to the stage - on piano.

The number was a blues in F - Blues For Duane.

David took the Freddie Hubbard tune to the cleaners. I can honestly say that this was the best blues piano solo by a drummer I've ever heard unless Harley Johnson's a drummer.

Photos.

Lance