Catatumbo @ The Bridge Hotel. Sunday 7th November

Ingrid Laubrock (tenor saxophone), Olie Brice (double bass) & Javier Carmona (drums) Jazz North East's On the Outside programme continued with a joint promotion with the Bridge Hotel's regular Splinter @ The Bridge night. Catatumbo, a free jazz/improv trio, features saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock with two like-minded young musicians in Olie Brice and Javier Carmona. All three have played gigs in Newcastle of late yet this performance was their first in the region working together as a three piece.

The format is well established; tentative, probing excursions, raw power, then dissolution if not resolution. Two sets, each comprising three pieces with the second piece of the second set the undoubted highlight of the evening with all three musicians on form, particularly Laubrock who played some powerful and inventive tenor. It was a well received set by a standing room only audience. Jazz North East's next On the Outside outing is once again at the Bridge Hotel featuring Mick Beck and Philip Marks (Tuesday 16th November).

Russell.