Pete Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Dan Reed (dms).
I arrived in The Toon, oblivious to the black and white shirts sobbing in their beer - Newcastle United having just lost 5-2 to Fulham - and took refuge in the Jazz Café. Ian Forbes was setting up the drums.
I exchanged pleasantries with Ian and returned to the bar where Dan Reed had appeared. More pleasantries then Dan said that he was playing drums tonight. I thought - "Uh huh!"
A double booking resulting in Ian taking his cymbals and vanishing into the night. It may be a little while before he returns...
The gig began and the room filled up.
Pete is quite an incredible player, if you catch him at just the right moment you realise he's up there with some of our more illustrious names. (Pete's at Hoochie Coochie on Thursday with Mark Williams - there should be a bit of adrenalin flowing that night.)
Tonight we heard, among others, In Walked Bud, Straight No Chaser, Whisper Not, A Foggy Day and a rather beautiful Waltz For Debbie with Pete taking us on a merry chase around the infinite variations the song and he are capable of.
On bass, Paul Grainger excelled and young Dan Reed began tentatively gradually becoming more assertive as he became hip to the quirks and whims of pianist and bass.
This was a most enjoyable evening.
Lance.
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