Graeme Stephen Septet @ Gateshead Old Town Hall. February 25th.

Graeme Stephen (guitar), Mario Caribe (double bass), Stu Ritchie (drums), Martin Kershaw (alto saxophone), Phil Bancroft (tenor & soprano saxophones), Chris Stout (fiddle) & Ben Davis (cello). Guitarist Graeme Stephen arrived in Gateshead with a band of fellow Scots, a classical cellist and a London-resident Brazilian bassist to play a concert promoted by Jazz North East in the borough's Victorian former town hall. The Tyneside date was one on a tour of England and Scotland to promote Stephen's CD ' Vantage Points'. The writing of the album was inspired by Scottish locations familiar and not so familiar. The presence of Phil Bancroft and Chris Stout ensured a pronounced folk element across the two sets. The real jazz content emerged during the two extended guitar, bass and drums trio excursions - Stephen excelling with some serious jazz guitar playing and eliciting a roar of approval from the audience of jazzers and folkies alike. Russell.