Jiannis Pavlidis Quintet @ The Bridge

Matt Anderson (ten); Jiannis Pavlidis (gtr); Declan Forde (keys); Sam Vicary (bs); Sam Gardner (dms).

Another less than full house which was unfortunate as the Jiannis Pavlidis Quintet is a band well worth checking out.

Pavlidis is an impressive guitarist and composer who can build it up before unleashing a solo that near blows your mind. Matt Anderson, I'm beginning to wonder if he lives in Leeds or Newcastle so frequently is he here! (He's back at Hoochie on Thursday). Matt blows tenor in a most deceptive way - he sort of lets it grow on you. A simple, almost elementary, chorus or two before gradually building and evolving into a kaleidoscopic cascade of notes and phrases that burst triumphantly then disappear from all but the ears of the listener.

Sam Gardner is a powerhouse behind the kit - in full flight he's like a contemporary Phil Seaman. On keys, Declan too is a formidable player aided and abetted by Vicary on bass.

A grand band playing accessible modern/contemporary music. Surely there are enough fans in and around Newcastle to at least half-fill the Bridge (capacity 110).
Lance.