Ruth Lambert (vocals), Graeme Wilson (tenor saxophone), Mark Williams (guitar), Neil Harland (double bass) & Tim Johnstone (drums)
Darlington's Opus 4 Jazz Club hosted a return visit by Ruth Lambert and there was a good sized crowd in the upstairs room of the West Auckland Road venue keen to hear more first rate singing from Cullercoats very own.
Saxophonist Graeme Wilson was in Johnny Cool mode and how appropriate as watching him were the likes of Stan Getz and Gerry Mulligan, albeit in faded Jazz Journal-like portrait form hanging from the walls. No question about it - the iconic figures nodded approvingly.
A sprightly Mark Williams is accompanist supreme and he and Wilson were in terrific form.
In demand bass player Neil Harland always delivers and Lambert's long-time drummer Tim Johnstone was his usual self - admirably restrained.
The tunes? Well, this is the Ms.Lambert - impeccable selections performed impeccably. We heard Skylark, S'wonderful, Stella By Starlight (a gem), Dindi, Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea and more. Lambert's phrasing and innate sense of swing mark her out as an exceptional voice. Many of the tunes heard at the Traveller's Rest can be found on Lambert's latest CD release Easy Street. Indeed the eponymous number was given an airing with Ruth and Mark initially in duo format, as on the recording, then in quintet form. The encore (there was never any doubt that there would be one) Secret Love sent us dancing our way into the night. S'wonderful.
Opus 4's November date features the Paul Edis Sextet.
Russell
It was a superb gig. I'll have to get over to Darlington more often.
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