Alan Glen @ The Cherry Tree Restaurant, Jesmond.

Alan Glen (pno); Paul Susans (bs); Paul Wight (dms).
(Review by Lance)

You wait months for an Alan Glen gig and then three come along at once!

The first one at "The Chilli" on March 5 was reviewed by Russell - follow link. The third one is on Saturday night at the Jazz Café and, in between, we had tonight at the Cherry Tree.

There are literally thousands of tunes in the GAsbook and I swear that Alan Glen knows every one of them!

Tonight's starter was You'd Be So Nice to Come Home to followed by Days of Wine and Roses or, in my case, a bottle of Black Sheep and the Lincolnshire Poacher and Early Wild Garlic Soufflé. I now know the meaning of Shangri-la!

I Remember You, A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square, How About You? and Roast Chicken Breast, Fricassee of New Spring Vegetables, Turned New Potatoes & Red Wine Jus combined to make this an unforgettable experience.

Follow this with Laura, My Funny Valentine, Take the A Train, Satin Doll, It Don't Mean a Thing and Strawberry & Pistachio Cheesecake, Orange Chantilly and confusion reigns - am I in Jesmond or have I gone to Heaven?

Pauls Susans and Wight provide the salt, pepper and gravy to the main course. Flavouring it subtly and unintrusively.

Alan Glen has been referred to as "The pianist's pianist" - this indicates some form of elitism. Personally, I prefer the old adage, Man here plays mighty fine piano!

Don't forget they do it all again on Saturday night (March 29) at the Jazz Café.

Next Monday at the Cherry Tree it's Djangologie. Mais Oui!

Lance.