James Birkett (guitar), Roly
Veitch (guitar), Neil Harland (double bass) & Adam Sinclair (drums)
(Review by Russell)
(Review by Russell)
It all started back in 1984 at
the Black Bull. Over the years Blaydon Jazz Club sought, of necessity, other
venues. The club was made welcome where ever it went. The closure of its most
recent base - another victim of the recession - necessitated a further move. So,
it was a case of ‘full circle’ with the welcome opportunity to return to the Bridge Street
hostelry.
The spring equinox a matter of days away, all was set fair to
celebrate the re-launch of the club with a gig featuring talented
saxophonist/flautist Sue Ferris. Little did one imagine that rain, sleet and
snow would conspire to defeat Ferris’ attempts to get out of Weardale. Heavy
snow up in the hills made the journey impossible. What to do? Cancel? Well, it
isn’t every Sunday evening that a top-class guitarist can be found having a
pint in the Black Bull, Blaydon but on this occasion James Birkett was just
that guitarist having a pint.
Birkett, a long-time friend of Blaydon Jazz Club,
was only too happy to dep for the ‘indisposed’ Ferris. Working in the company
of club promoter, guitarist and vocalist Roly Veitch, bassist Neil Harland and
Adam Sinclair (drums) made this a no-brainer of a gig for the affable Birkett.
Come to think of it, Messrs Veitch, Harland and Sinclair are themselves affable
chaps making for a most enjoyable evening.
The choice of material, typically
Blaydon, couldn't have been better - All
of Me, I’m Old Fashioned (Veitch
straight in with a vocal), Manha de Carnaval
(Adam Sinclair bossing the bossa), Body
and Soul, you get the picture. John Lewis’ sublime Skating in Central Park was, well, sublime. Veitch sang another - If I Had You - and played a lot of very
good guitar, not least on the evening’s closing number All the Things You Are (watch out Dr Birkett!). A good number of
regulars braved the elements and they were rewarded with an evening of
impeccable jazz guitar and vocals. The contributions of Neil Harland and Adam
Sinclair should not go unrecognised. To have not one but two gifted musicians
working with the Birkett-Veitch guitar duo is indicative of the wealth of
talent in the region.
Tribute was paid to the late Mike Durham by Roly Veitch and endorsed by all present.
Come rain, come shine make the effort to get out there and hear it. Blaydon Jazz Club at the Black Bull, third Sunday in the month (next one Sunday 21 April).
Tribute was paid to the late Mike Durham by Roly Veitch and endorsed by all present.
Come rain, come shine make the effort to get out there and hear it. Blaydon Jazz Club at the Black Bull, third Sunday in the month (next one Sunday 21 April).
Russell.
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