Kyle Eastwood Band @ The Sage Gateshead.

Kyle Eastwood (bs/bs.gtr); Graeme Flowers (tpt/flg); Ben Castle (ten/sop); Andrew McCormack (pno); Martyn Kaine (dms).

A well attended Hall Two showed their appreciation of a solid couple of sets by the Eastwood Band and were rewarded with an encore - the only non original of the night - Big Noise From Winnetka! Admittedly it bore little resemblance to the original Bob Haggart tune but it was fun. Prior to this we'd had a good opening set - in particular, Supermac, on piano, had set the world aflame on an original entitled Cosmos. The horns were flying too on this number and, Ben Castle, himself the offspring of an illustrious father, had some powerful exchanges with Graeme Flowers.

Kyle played impressively on what appeared to be a quarter size bass as well as alternating with a couple of bass guitars.

Martyn Kaine - educated in Whitley Bay - drove the ensemble from the back of the bus as well as contributing punchy solos.

The overall feel was of contemporary Blue Note with Flowers reminiscent at times of Freddy Hubbard.

Very enjoyable.

Lance.