Ruth Lambert Quintet at the Side Café

Duffy may have been duffing them at the 'Evolution Festival' but upstream, at The Side Café, the Ruth Lambert Quintet were laying down some quality time.

I can't recall ever hearing Frank Loesser's "Never Will I Marry", from the 1960 show, 'Greenwillow', sung at a jazz gig; it's not an easy song to sing straight let alone to stamp your authority on it the way Ruth did. Skilfully singing the opening chorus, accompanied only by the appropriately named Andy Champion on bass, it was pure magic.

"Black Coffee" was as smoky as it gets with an atmospheric solo from Graeme Wilson on tenor.

Space precludes listing all the other delights; Paul Donnelly's guitar work, Tim Johnston's explosive breaks and, of course, Andy Champion who rubber stamped Roly Veitch's comments on bass players in a previous post.

Oh yes, one other moment to remember; "A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square". The last time I heard this number live was by Mel Tormé and George Shearing 25 years ago. Ruth's version, despite some uncertainty in places, was nevertheless in the same ballpark.

The North East Jazz Collective is very lucky to have two of the country's best young jazz singers on their rota.