Michael Garrick (pno), Matt Ridley (bs), Dominic Ashworth (gtr).
The first jazz concert I ever attended at Gateshead Town Hall was by Sonny Stitt. Forty plus years on I felt a sense of déjà vu when, at tonight's concert, the Michael Garrick Trio opened up with Eternal Triangle - a Sonny Stitt composition.
Perhaps Sonny's spirit was hovering over us.
Dominic Ashworth seemed to think so when I told him - or maybe he was just humouring me!
Canadian guitarist Ashworth, replacing drummer Alan Jackson in the trio, quickly allayed any doubts as to his suitability with some dazzling blasts on this boppy opus.
Of course, those who knew him from the recent Daryl Sherman concerts were delighted to see him again so soon and knew he was the real deal.
Michael Garrick, pictured with BSH's Ann Alexander, chose a mix of the old and the new both from his own work and the jazz repertoire. This latter cat. included Bill Evan's Peri's scope, Limehouse Blues and Oscar Pettiford's Tricotism. Trico, incidentally, was an impressive feature for bassist Ridley.
As a composer Webster's Mood - inspired by the late Ben Webster - portrayed the tenor saxophonist as the great romantic soul he could be. An affectionate and evocative tribute.
As a pianist Michael combined fingerlickin' dexterity with the harmonic acumen of Bill Evans.
And, as if this wasn't enough, we were also treated to a poetry reading by Michael drawn from the work of John Smith (honest!) a minor poet with major emotional depth.
A fitting finale to what has been a very good piano series.
Lance.
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