Alter Ego @ Queens Hall, Hexham. May 29.

Dave Hignett (tpt/flug), Steve Summers (alt), Niall Armstrong (ten), Andy Hawking (pno), Giles Strong (gtr), Ian Paterson (bs), David Francis (dms).

So, being a sunny evening, I took myself off to visit a mate in Hexham who suggested we make an evening of it in the light and airy Queens Hall cafe, where Alter Ego (from the James Williams piece) were performing just the kind of set that lets you breath and drink beer at the same time - a perfect marriage for a summer evening: Bobby Watson, James Williams, Grant Green, Hank Mobley etc. in their orbits around Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers.

Described by Jazz Action as an "exciting new jazz ensemble from Newcastle" (www.jazzaction.co.uk/alterego.html) the performance was generally pretty good and certainly deserved the encore, which this night's laid-back Hexham audience failed to deliver! So it was good to get the set list - some of which can be heard on the Jazz Action page - from their enthusiastic co-leader and drummer David Francis - no coincidence with Art Blakey of course!

Must say that my man of the match award went to trumpet/flugelhorn player Dave Hignett, who worked up the the most inspiring of red-faced sweats with his chromatic prestidigitations - 1st to the bar as well! It may have been where we were stuck, on seats at the back of the low-ceilinged bar area, having arrived 10 minutes late! but I'd say that guitarist Giles Strong could do with an '11' setting on his amp at least for his Grant Green inspired solos. Definitely worth the 7 quid plus several San Migs. Set List: The Red Snapper (Bobby Shew); A Bitta Bittadose & A Wheel Within a Wheel (Bobby Watson); Alter Ego (James Williams); Hit & Run (Jay Chattaway); Compulsion (Andrew Hill); Little Man (Charles Fambrough); Grant's Tune (Grant Green); Zee Kay 30 (Doug Beach); Roll Call (Hank Mobley); The Soulful Mr Timmons (James Williams); One for Trane (Mickey Bass): Jazz Action's right - it's good to hear some of the less obvious numbers, which get you digging through the discographies. Photos (by Amanda Knight).

George Milburn.