Keith Robinson (alto saxophone), Niall Armstrong (tenor
saxophone & flute), Dave Hignett (trumpet & flugelhorn), Andy Hawking
(keyboards), Tony Abell (double bass) & David Francis (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Jazz Messengers
were to be heard across the Tyne on Easter
Day. Down river at the Bridge Hotel, Messenger Pete Gilligan preached the
Gospel of Silver (H.Silver), up river Alter Ego the torch bearers for Blakey
(A.Blakey). Two cracking bop outfits a matter of three or four miles apart on
the same night - an impossible choice. Why Blaydon? No reason, one was sure to
be as good as the other.
Numbers by
Dexter Gordon, JJ Johnson, Johnny Griffin, Horace Silver (that man Silver!) and
Bobby Watson peppered the first set. Cheese
Cake featured beefy alto from Keith Robinson, In Walked Horace (that man Silver!) lean tenor from Niall
Armstrong, tempered trumpet from Dave Hignett, authoritative bass playing from
Tony Abell and on Nice and Easy
Armstrong dispensed a full measure of mid-tempo bluesy tenor. Bobby Watson, one
of Alter Ego’s favourite composers, is a fixture in the set list (this Black
Bull date heard three or four of the ex-Messenger’s tunes) and before the
interval a Latin piece doubled up with Moon
Rise (the latter featuring some proper, line-the-bar-and-listen trumpet
playing from Hignett). The set closer – The
Soulful Mr Timmons – featured Robinson’s alto and the soulful Mr Andy
Hawking (piano).
Hit and Run began the
second set, Robinson prominent, so too, Hignett. Bobby Watson’s Wheel Within a Wheel showcased the
immaculate dovetailing of the horns, beautiful textures (Hignett’s flugel) and
Hawking’s mesmeric piano motif. Monk as Messenger. Why not? Think of One. That’ll do. A band
original – Boudini – received its
first public airing (a world premiere, said drummer David Francis) with tenor,
flugel and piano in the spotlight. Gate-crashing dancers ‘entertained’ the room
on Get Back In until they got bored
and went back out. Bitter Dose
brought the house down before the house lights went up – superb piano playing (Play on!), killer muted trumpet playing,
all preaching the gospel of Alter Ego.
Russell. 
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