Phil Robson Organ Trio @ The Lit and Phil, Newcastle. June 5

Phil Robson (gtr); Ross Stanley (Hammond); Gene Calderazzo (dms).
(Review by Lance/Photos courtesy of Ken Drew.)

This was a blast! Three superb players bringing the organ trio into the 21st century.

Loved every minute of it and yet...

The sound could have been better, I felt that if the trio had set up at the top of the rectangular room rather than on the side the projection would have been greater. Maybe.

Ross Stanley's a superb player but I despaired at seeing the pedal-board semi redundant. Admittedly he played some effective bass lines with his left hand but nothing can compare to an organist dancing on the pedals whilst blowing up a Force 9 on the keys.

Robson was cool and melodic making runs many players could only dream about.

Calderazzo? They don't come any better! Every tub-thumper in town should have been here; worshipping, scrapping for crumbs from the great man's table.

He kicked ass from here to breakfast time!  No chance to coast with this guy around.

I didn't count bums but JNE deserved a bigger turn out for such a quality ensemble.

One day perhaps...
Ken Drew Photos.

Lance.