Ruth Lambert Quartet. Ashington Jazz Club. Wednesday May 2.

Ruth Lambert (vcl); Graham Hardy (tpt/flug); Mark Williams (gtr); Andy Champion (bs); Tim Johnston (dms).
(Review by Peter S.)

The last visit of Ruth to Ashington Jazz Club sadly had to be cancelled due to severe winter conditions and our members have been waiting patiently for her return. Our patience was rewarded on Wednesday. with a visit that proved to be well worth the wait.

We often say that one swallow doesn’t make a Summer but the return of this song bird gave us all a feeling that warmer days could not be too far ahead. Unfortunately, with Newcastle AFC on the verge of glory at Chelsea (TV broadcast) and with some members basking in the sun of foreign shores, our attendance was reduced, but nevertheless this did not affect the quality of the evening performance.

Ruth has a number of musical influences including Carmen McCrae and Anita O’Day to name but two, which is evident in her voice and lyrical selections but overall it is the Ruth Lambert style and her interpretations of classical jazz numbers which always takes front stage and pleases her audiences.

Mark Williams (guitar) and Andy Champion (double bass) have a firm association as the rhythm section which blends so well with Ruth’s voice and their skillful musical accompaniment enhances her vocals. This evening she was joined by Graham Hardy on trumpet and flugel horn and his Miles D. technique in the background and in his imaginative solos prepared a musical spring board for the voice. A bonus was his movement between the brass instruments creating a variable canvas of Jazz.

This quartet felt at home with Classic lyrics, blues and Bosa Nova rhythms and variable tempos while the interplay between voice and instruments was real quality .Ruth’s vocal range is wide and very adaptable to the requirements of each melody and the poetry in the programme. We must not forget that it is the musicians art to deliver and interpret the story which may sometimes represent emotion in all its forms and Ruth and her boys do just that and do it well. I hope we don’t have to wait too long before the next visit. The members enjoyed every musical note. Best wishes from AJC

PROGRAMME: No Moon At All/ The Man I Love/ Blue Skies/ Time After Time (my personal favourite)/ Bossa Nova Without You/ Love Me Like a Man / How High the Moon/ Is You is or is You Ain't My Baby/ Skylark/ You'd Be So Nice to Come Home to/ Willow Weep For Me/ Beautiful Love/ One Note Samba / Gee Baby Ain’t I Good to You/ and finally..I Get a Kick Out of You/ Ruth and her boys were good to us - thank you all.

JUNE MEETING WEDNESDAY 6th. JUNE at 8.30 p.m. THE ELEPHANT –DON FAIRLEY’S FRIENDS OF JAZZ.

SEE YOU THERE ...

Photos.

Peter S.