The band came up from Leeds - logistically it would have made economic sense to bus the audience down to Leeds. However, I've long given up expecting jazz fans to turn out in their numbers, or maybe they did - all 8 of them.
What's the answer? I don't know and nor does ace saxist Simon Spillett who posed a similar question in this month's Jazz Journal. In fairness, the bar itself was totally deserted so it wasn't just jazz fans who opted to stay in - maybe they were all watching Upstairs and Downstairs!
Matt Anderson is no stranger to the North East having made appearances at The Bridge and Hoochie Coochie with various bands - all enhanced by his laid back cool sounding tenor sax.
This was music from the drawing room side of the jazz canon and none the worse for that.
It swung delicately with Anderson weaving his lissom lines around a mix of standards and originals. When Sunny Gets Blue and Skylark really stood out as things of beauty.
Russell remarked that Pavlidis looked a bit like Barney Kessel and, at times he did sound like the late grandmaster of the guitar.
Sterling's bass work was in accordance with his name whilst leader Montague was, at times, gently swinging and at other times driving it ruthlessly forward.
Despite the feeling of loneliness in the audience - it was a good gig that deserved better support.
Lance.
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