Graham Hardy w. Paul Edis Trio @ The Cherry Tree.

Graham Hardy (tpt/flug); Paul Edis (pno); Neil Harland (bs); Rob Walker (dms).

After his recent incarceration with the Vieux Carré Jazzmen I feared that Hardy may have become a born again revivalist with a Mutt Carey vibrato and a beard. Fortunately, he came through unscathed retaining his Art Farmer, Lee Morgan, Nat Adderley approach although he has added Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans to his repertoire - a number that featured him very effectively using a plunger mute - shades of Cootie Williams. 

Although not Edis' regular trio the unit blended well together on numbers such as My Romance, Stomping at the Savoy, Like Someone in Love, Work Song, the Ellington/Strayhorn piece of exotica Isfahan and the un-deconstructed version of Moanin' (see Matt Anderson Quartet Second Set.)

Whilst sitting in this musical heaven I was waited on by handmaidens bearing Shredded Crispy Duck Salad, Sesame and Soy; Navarin of Spring Lamb with Young Vegetables; and Elderflower and Ginger Jelly, Marinated Watermelon and Strawberries.

And if this wasn't Shangri-la enough, I discovered that the 33A bus from outside of the restaurant links up in town  with the good old number 27.

Next week it's a celebration of 150 years of the Blaydon Races featuring the Blaydon Aces (Roly Veitch and James Birkett).

Lance.