James Birkett with Roly Veitch Trio @ Blaydon Jazz Club. March 17, 2013

James Birkett (guitar), Roly Veitch (guitar), Neil Harland (double bass) & Adam Sinclair (drums)
(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).          

Russell.