Lennart Andersson (ten); Jeremy McMurray (pno); Neil Harland (bs); Tim Johnston (dms).
This was my first hearing of Swedish tenor player Lennart Andersson and I'm pleased to say it won't be my last (he's on at the Cherry Tree in Jesmond this Monday). Stan Getz may be gone but Lennart is a more than adequate replacement. He's got the sound Lennart is no mere clone, he's his own man working within a Getzian spectrum which means flowing, lyrical, emotive playing.
From the opening How About You? to the stomping Cherokee the session never faltered and it wasn't just Lennart who set the stage aflame. Jeremy McMurray hung on in there and had some delightful moments of his own particularly on Thad Jones' 3 and 1.
Nice too to hear Lars Gullin's Merlin - it was such a lovely ballad it should have been entitled Marilyn!
With the impeccable Neil Harland on bass and the steady drive of Tim Johnston at the kit this was an evening to be remembered - if you missed him or even if you didn't catch him again on Monday at the Cherry Tree. Playing like this coupled with their legendary menu is a salivating prospect.
Brilliant evening.
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