A Dutch Treat. Tim Kliphuis & Keith Stephen's Hot Club Trio @ The Saville Exchange, North Shields.

Tim Kliphuis (vln), Keith Stephen (gtr), Roly Veitch (gtr), Bruce Rollo (bs).

This was sheer delight! The personable young Dutchman recreated the glory that was France in the decade before World War II with a stunning performance of Djangolic tunes and standards associated with the Quintet of the Hot Club de France.

Tim Kliphuis has taken the genius of Grappelli and moulded it to his own muse resulting in an end result that is more than mere imitation. Some of his fantastic flights were breathtaking in their wizardry.

Likewise, Keith Stephen has assimilated the Django ethos yet still manages to be his own man. Keith too had some amazing solos - not least on "China Boy" where the minor inconvenience of a snapped top e string failed to curtail the creative juices.

Roly, banjoless tonight, provided the accompanying chord thrash that is so characteristic of the world of Hot Club. His rhythm guitar work was totally immersed in that tradition. He soloed on "Sweet Georgia Brown" and even managed to sneak in a bop lick ("Ornithology" I think.)

Beneath it all Bruce Rollo laid down the basslines. Sometimes it was slapbass other times a solid four or a sprightly two. He had some humourous musical exchanges with Tim that raised a few chuckles and was a tower of strength throughout.

Difficult to pick favourites - I loved them all - but standouts included "Daphne". "Double Whisky (or is it "Double Scotch"?), "Swing 42" and "I Can't Give You Anything But Love".

A brilliant performance all round.

Photos.

Lance.