(Review by
Kath Jobes).
The blurb said,
“One of Tyneside's top tenors: swings like crazy with a tone fit to blister
paint” ...and the new paint at the café was well and truly blistered! Have
You Met Miss Jones was a lively start to the set, Black Nile displayed the technical ability of Gowland, and then Recorda Me exhibited the skill of each
of the musicians in turn… wow these guys really are all stars! Midnight
Voyage revealed a melodic sax and tinkling piano, the tenor solo flourished
as the sax sung out, and a delightful bass solo from Willie Angus was admired
by the appreciative crowd.
Darn That Dream was
beautiful, with interesting changes of feel during the delightful piano solo
from Marc Jolliffe, and a superb bass solo from Angus… even the rest of the
band stopped to listen. In Your Own Sweet Way, brought the first
set to a light and joyful close as Jolliffe’s skilful fingers danced across the
keys.
The second set
opened with a seemingly endless Afro Blue, as each musician charmed the
attentive audience with their own solo… all noteworthy, superb piano, an almost
discordant and chaotic sax, magnificent bass and drums… guys you are in fine
fettle. The arrival of Ray Burns to the
Café , looking dapper as ever brought a new sound to the set as he was
persuaded to join the band for a tune.
As the exquisite sound of his harmonica introduced Body And Soul, memories of the old café were evoked and jam
sessions that will be forever engraved on my mind, with Keith Crombie waxing
lyrical about his past exploits in the Jazz world… but I digress… Ray then went
on to sing; another rare treat… I have heard his harmonica many times, but
rarely his superb singing.
Beatrice was introduced by
another fine bass solo, and before we knew it time had brought us to the final
number Chucho, with a blisteringly
hot sax, stupendous bass with some cool strumming, magical piano and a smashing
drum… joined once more by Ray Burns and his amazing harmonica.
Gowland’s
Allstars delighted me and my friend Emma Scott, another
saxophonist who just described the night as AWESOME!
Kath J.
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