Pete Gilligan (pno); Mark Williams (gtr); Paul Grainger (bs); Jeff Armstrong (dms) + Lindsay Hannon (vcl); Belinda (vcl); James Harrison (pno); Ian Simpson (gtr).(Review by Lance).
Things got off to a good start with Blues For Pete - or was it Pat? followed by Waltz for Debby which swung all the way in 3/4. The guys were giving it everything on a Bud Powell number and I remarked to my neighbour "who's going to have the guts to get up here?" Needless to say, Lindsay took up the challenge with an incredible Take The A Train. Our girl didn't just take the A Train she drove it like crazy up to Sugar Hill in Harlem. If she'd been at the wheel of my number 27 bus I'd have been home in half the time!. Things mellowed with a slower but rockier Watermelon Man which saw the worthy member from Ashington, John T, tripping the light fantastic.
Next up, two young guys took over on piano and guitar and I groaned, what have we here?
My groans quickly changed to gasps as they laid down their credentials with a swinging Autumn Leaves - these two could play!
Then a most pleasant surprise. The Wardell Gray classic Twisted. Not just the theme but the complete solo played as The Head. This was Wardell and Annie Ross transferred to keyboard! The solos took off with Paul and Jeff chipping in nicely with the two sitters in - like wow!
Oh yes, the pianist was James Harrison and the guitarist Ian Simpson (both pictured) - note the names.
The Champions (Zoe and Andy) arrived during the interval but did not sit in when the second set got underway. Instead, Lindsay returned for Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? and In a Sentimental Mood. The former song punchy and bluesy, the latter languorous and melancholy.
The new kids on the block took a Caravan to Druridge Bay and back and a lady called Belinda sang When Sunny Gets Blue. Rich toned, the epitome of clarity. The lyric or rather the line - Then the rain begins to fall, pitter-patter, pitter-patter - took on a special significance when I left for the number 27. The rain was falling but it was no mere pitter, patter...
Photos.
Lance.
The Champions (Zoe and Andy) arrived during the interval but did not sit in when the second set got underway. Instead, Lindsay returned for Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby? and In a Sentimental Mood. The former song punchy and bluesy, the latter languorous and melancholy.
The new kids on the block took a Caravan to Druridge Bay and back and a lady called Belinda sang When Sunny Gets Blue. Rich toned, the epitome of clarity. The lyric or rather the line - Then the rain begins to fall, pitter-patter, pitter-patter - took on a special significance when I left for the number 27. The rain was falling but it was no mere pitter, patter...
Photos.
Lance.
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