Nic Svarc Trio @ The Bridge Hotel. March 16

 Nic Svarc (guitar), Martin Longhorn (organ) & Steve Hanley (drums)

(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew.)

Splinter at the Bridge welcomed the return of guitarist Nic Svarc. Toting a cherry red Gibson 335 and a pedal board approaching XL proportions, at a glance Svarc resembled a youthful Larry Coryell. Mining the rich seam of the classic Hammond organ trio, the mono-syllabic Svarc let his Gibson do the talking; touch, time, feel, technique.

Martin Longhorn’s contribution didn’t dominate, as can be the case in a line-up such as this, drummer Steve Hanley (youthful isn’t the word, age twelve and a half to look at him) handled complex time signatures with ease and bandleader Svarc crafted subtle solos. Riffs, chords, the familiar and original material. Was that, fleetingly, Jean Pierre? An Extrapolation chord, a Jack Bruce bass line? This was a ‘less is more’ gig, much space, a ‘take your time’ gig. A smoking Hammond is guaranteed to bring the house down, Longhorn teased but never quite (by design) delivered the knockout blow. An excellent gig, three fine musicians, another Splinter success. Next week – March 23 – is the monthly Splinter jam session. Performer or listener, doors 7:30, on stage 8:15..      Russell.