A Many Splendored Thing - The Alan Glen Trio & Take It To The Bridge @ The Chilli.

Alan Glen (pno), John Pope (bs), David Carnegie (dms).

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Dave Weisser (tpt), Doug Fielder (ten), Chris Finch (pno), Barrie Ascroft (bs.gtr), Malcolm Dick (dms).

+ Dan Reed (dms), David Carnegie (pno).

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I wish the Alan Glen Trio had played Too Marvelous for Words tonight - it would have summed up their entire performance - they were, as always, just too very very etc. As it was we had...

Love is a Many Splendored Thing: taken up-tempo it got things going 'splendidly' reminding us of how much better it sounds away from the doleful dirge the balladeers favour.

My Old Flame: now that's what you call a ballad - so poignant...

Brubeck's In Your Own Sweet Way: a pre-curser to tomorrow's concert at Gateshead Old Town Hall, Liam Noble's the Brubeck Project. Great tune and great player - Alan Glen.

More Brubeckiana, this time from Dave Digs Disney - Alice in Wonderland - a swingy jazz waltz.

Its You or No One: Moved along nicely with lots of tingling melodic flurries taking in the whole keyboard.

I Can't Get Started: gorgeous harmonies as Alan explored the seemingly endless possibilities of Vernon Duke's classic.

Just in Time: The inevitable big blast finale with David Carnegie as usual soloing to great effect.

Great set with especial mention of John Pope's bass-playing - The Pope has incorporated all the essential elements of the bass players armoury including humour and a welcome degree of showmanship.

Earlier, the Take It To The Bridge crew with Malcolm Dick on drums, - Eric has left to tend to his many other gigs i.e. Budvivar, Jazz Café, grandpaternal duties etc. - Chris Finch on an unexploding piano (see Big Band Festival report from Russell!) and Barry doing bass guitar whet our appetite for the delights to come.

Dan Reed, a young drummer from Prudhoe, had a blast on Hubbard's (Freddie not Mother) Up Jumped Spring and Wayne's (Shorter not John) Lester Left Town. The boy did good - jazz waltzes (Spring) aren't the easiest numbers to kick off on but he came through head held high - likewise on Lester he dug in and played confidently.

David C sat in on piano for the inevitable Blues (in F) for Duane and sent the room into orbit - nice one David.

Out front Dave W and Doug F added their own distinctive touches to Weaver of Dreams, Masquerade, Whisper Not and others.

Lance.