Plunge @ Central Bar, Gateshead. 1st March

Andreas Andersson (baritone saxophone), Mattias Hjorth (double bass) & Peter Nilsson (drums) Plunge Trio last played on Tyneside for Jazz North East in May 2009 in the upstairs room of the Bridge Hotel at the Newcastle end of the High Level Bridge. This, their return visit, saw them pitch up at the Gateshead side of the bridge at the recently renovated Central Bar.

The Central's upstairs room - the Blue Room - is a welcome addition to the area's live music scene - the genial Swedes exuded warmth and their performance did likewise.

Reeds player Andreas Andersson chose to travel with just the one instrument (baritone sax), bassist Mattias Hjorth was happy once more to loan John Pope's double bass and drummer Peter Nilsson made good use of Splinter's in-house kit borrowed for the night from the Bridge Hotel.

Andersson played simple, short, repetitive lines, Hjorth coaxed a full, rounded tone from JP's pride and joy and Nilsson reprised his impressive performance of 2009. The trio worked as a cohesive unit, honed, in part, from several years working with Bobo Stenson. The select audience, of whom some were Swedes, listened intently and applauded heartily.

Jazz North East's forthcoming On the Outside programme is taking shape (one of the gigs at the Central Bar features Alan Wilkinson's Anglo-Norwegian Quartet on May 11th). Check out http://www.jazznortheast.com/ Russell.