JazzMain @ The Globe, Newcastle - February 3

Nick Gould (tenor sax); Steve Grossart (keys); Iain Harkness (bass); Kevin Dorrian (drums).

(Review and photo of Nick Gould by Lance/Band photo courtesy of Sheila Herrick).

There have been many Scottish invasions - Celtic, Rangers, Hibs, Hearts but, with the possible exception of the Bay City Rollers, few of the marauders have made their mark - until last night that is. Last night, JazzMain took the Jazz Coop's groundfloor Jazz Bar by storm.

A hard-blowing session in the best Blue Note tradition with pieces by Horace Silver, Dexter Gordon, Hank Mobley, George Coleman, Tubby Hayes and many others proving that, for one night only, the Hippest Cat in Hollywood was actually in Newcastle. Tomorrow he/they will be the hippest cat(s) in Holyrood.

The opener, Sunday in New York became, for me, Sunday in Newcastle and what a Sunday it turned out to be!

The four from Edinburgh don't take any prisoners. Dorrian, in goal, leads from the rear, driving hard, pushing the soloists to the limit. Defender Harkness, solid in support and adventurous in attack when given the nod. Pianist Grossart feeding the striker with chords and nonlinear lines via various combinations of sounds from the Roland keyboard and the JazzMain man himself, Nick Gould blowing tenor like Joe Henderson was his brother.

Secret Love; Soul Eyes; Bob (Bird of Beauty - Stevie Wonder); My Move, Your Groove; Cheesecake and Amsterdam After Dark. Here endeth the first lesson. It had been a blast although, at 75 minutes, perhaps a shade too long bearing in mind the need for comfort breaks and the recharging of glasses.

The above needs attended to we were soon back in Hackensack via Frith St with Soho Soul; Come Rain or Come Shine; Nobody Else But me; Tin Tin Deo; Joyspring; the obligatory Jobim number the title of which escaped me; Afterburner; A Weaver of Dreams and finally, more Silver into Gould with Liberated Brother.

It's early days to say 'Gig of the Month' but with the bar set this high, the rest have it all to do!
Lance.