Elaine Binney and the Jazz Rascals @ The Bridge

Elaine Binney (vln); Eliza Lawson (vcl); Steve Brown (keys); Keith Mills (bs); Jae Brooks (dms); Graham Robinson (ten).

The Bridge was filled to capacity, there was a vibrancy about the room and there were a lot of new faces in the crowd - and on stage.

The Rascals were in town!

Elaine's new line-up comprises her regular bass and drums plus guest singers and keyboardists which tonight were Steve Brown and Eliza Lawson.

The mini-skirted, trilby-hatted violinist has been a welcome addition to the local scene over the past year ploughing an individual furrow somewhere between Grappelli and Jean Luc-Ponty in a mixture of standards and originals. Her youthful vitality and enthusiasm is infectious as is her music. Eliza Lawson - a new name to me - is quite an explosive singer whose wordless improvisations were the perfect complement. Keyboard, pogo bass and drums drove things along nicely and things rocked along swingingly.

As a bonus tenorist Graham Robinson blew on a couple of numbers.

It wasn't all perfect! The sound balance could have been better - at times the violin couldn't be heard - but, that aside, it was a good gig and an enthusiastic crowd. Splinter is to be applauded for encouraging new bands with something to say.

Photos.

Lance.