Alan Glen Trio @ The Chillingham. March 5

Alan Glen (keyboards), Paul Grainger (double bass) & Paul Wight (drums)

(Review by Russell).

From time to time Dave Weisser offers one of the region’s bands a guest spot at his weekly jazz workshop at the Chillingham. The latest such occasion featured an all too rare appearance by the doyen of north east pianists Alan Glen. Beautiful Love opened the programme with bassist Paul Grainger (depping for John Pope) alongside regular drummer Paul Wight. Glen’s intros are the stuff of legend, keeping the audience guessing, bass and drums awaiting their cue. 

Ideas flowed one after another. You Don’t Know What Love Is heard the trio to best effect. Grainger had settled in nicely (soloing confidently), Wight’s brush work a strong suit and Glen’s rich textures a delight. Night Shade (a Latin/bossa feel) exercised new boy Grainger’s chops – he passed with flying colours, albeit with a ringing of the hands. Glen doesn’t take any prisoners! A first rate set. 

Alan Glen appears at the Jazz Café at the end of March. Treat yourself. Check Bebop Spoken Here nearer the time.

Dave Weisser’s band played two sets either side of Alan Glen’s master class. Weisser (trumpet/flugel) engaged Wight (first set, Norman Redhead second set) and Grainger for the evening alongside mainstay Barrie Ascroft (keyboards) and promising guitarist David Stephens. 

Yardbird Suite, My Romance, Swing for Debby, The Shadow of Your Smile – great tunes played with enthusiasm. A good night at the Chilli. From one week to the next you never know who will turn up. It is one of the joys of the session. Get along on a Wednesday night. For a quid you can’t go wrong and the beers are as good as you’ll find.           

Russell.

PS: you can also catch the Alan Glen Trio at The Cherry Tree Restaurant, Jesmond, on Monday March 24 where Alan will be delighting diners via a well tuned baby grand with, of course, his rhythm section.