Jazz Café at The Star Newcastle: March 27 Gabriele Mit Drei: and Jam Session

Gabi Heller (vocals); Alan Law (keys); Steve Glendinning (guitar); Dave Parker (bass)

(Review by Ann Alex).

This was a mammoth gig of one and a half hours, with no let up in the skill and enthusiasm of the performers, followed by a half hour jam session, just for good measure, and all for free.  You are mad if you missed it, that’s all I can say!

Gabi’s voice sounded stronger than ever, with a wide range, from rough-edged bluesy up to tender sweetness.  Softly As In A Morning Sunrise started us off with well expressed lyrics, then a smooth vocalese-like scat.  We were reminded that it was a full moon last night with Old Devil Moon, which had the guitar running up and down and round about and the keys being gently tricksy. This musical alchemy was followed by a Quincy Jones song, featured in the film The Colour Purple, calling on the sisterhood, supported by much whole-band soloing. 

Then came one of my favourites, Gabi’s own song Don’t Mess Around With Me, and the band certainly didn’t mess around, Steve whirling around the fretboard like a man possessed – perhaps searching for the lost chord and, in the process, finding many new ones!

Alan played a tremendous solo on Lullaby of Birdland that drew the first, and possibly the loudest, round of applause of the evening.  The benchmark had been set down. A Latin number, about the people in Argentina who were ‘disappeared’ for political reasons, with Dave beating out an exciting rhythm on the wood of the bass.  Twelve numbers, including All Or Nothing At All; Good Morning Heartache sung with real feeling; You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To; Wallflower which was translated from the German; and, to finish, Imagination.

The Jam Session

Lindsay Hannon (vocals); James Harrison (keys); Steve Glendinning (guitar); Dave Parker (bass); Chris Finch (keys); Jeff Smith (tenor sax).

Lindsay and James treated us to a journey on the A Train, and the journey continued with Steve and Dave joining them to tell us that There Will Never Be Another You.  Thelonious Monk got into the carriage, with his Blue Monk, which had James soloing bluesily with big chops and slides, wonderful stuff.  Chris and Jeff then stepped up to join the bass for the theme from Black Orpheus, and we finally journeyed back home to London with A Foggy Day In London Town.

The whole evening was well worth the ride! And, just in case you think Alan Laws is King of the Keyboard – well, actually he is, but James and Chris are up there with him.

The Star is developing a jazz club ambience – it’s cool, it’s friendly

Ann Alex