The Allsorts Band @ The Bridge Hotel. June 22

Russ Henderson (tenor saxophone & flute), Oli Cadman (keyboards), Jim Faulkner (guitar), Peter Gavin (electric bass) & Katie Patterson (drums)

(Review by Russell).

Katie Patterson’s Allsorts Band made a return visit to Splinter @ the Bridge some fifteen months on from a promising first appearance (between times the band played another gig at Hoochie Coochie). In the meantime, Patterson has recruited Jim Faulkner to play guitar and don an apron. Yes, the desperate Faulkner agreed to wear the band outfit of patterned kitchen aprons. Only kidding Jim! You’re sure to have plenty of offers of a gig. So, apron donned, would Faulkner peel the spuds to Chef Patterson’s exacting standards?

Patterson – Jazz Yorkshire’s Young Musician of the Year 2012 – leads a band, hustles for gigs, organises itineraries, devises menus, writes some tunes and plays the music. Putting something on the back burner doesn’t come in to it for Patterson; boiling pans on hobs, a new tune simmering in the mind, finely graded ingredients presented for your delectation.

Tenor saxophonist Russ Henderson opened on flute, switched to tenor and worked unison lines with spuds man Faulkner. A couple of tunes first heard last year remained in the pad (a Bob Marley number and a Patterson original Early Morning View From Above), one of Brian Blade’s compositions featured (drummer’s prerogative, Katie!) and a brace of tunes written by guitarists. Spuds man Faulkner dried his hands, picked up his Gibson 335 and served up a sizzling version of Pat Martino’s Mac Tough (check out Pat Martino’s Live at Yoshi’s). For dessert another helping of Pat – Mr Pat Metheny. Make no mistake about it, Faulkner can play – no more doghouse duties for him!

Amiable keyboards man Oli Cadman threw in some dark, twisted harmonic ingredients, five-string bassist Peter Gavin repeatedly hit a groove and Patterson counted them in on some devilishly complex time signatures. High quality ingredients from a high quality band. The next time Katie Patterson’s Allsorts are on the menu make sure you book your table in advance.          

Russell.