Graeme Wilson Quartet @ Jazz Café. September 6

Graeme Wilson (tenor saxophone), Paul Edis (piano), Andy Champion (double bass) & Adam Sinclair (drums)

(Review by Russell/photo courtesy of Mike Tilley)

Fantastic! At the end of the evening an acquaintance said: It’s amazing that we have musicians of this calibre here in Newcastle. Honorary Geordie Graeme Wilson has recently relocated to his homeland north of the border after a decade or so on Tyneside but the good news is he continues to gig here in the north east and this Jazz Café date proved to be as good as it gets.

The set list comprised of familiar Wilson charts with the addition of one new number. Street of Furs, Offissa Pup, a double helping of Blyth Spirit – The Sycamore and The New Wallaw – from the days of Voice of the North, the Coltrane blast on the swinging Searchlight Nevada and the new one, Turquoise. Wilson, deceptively quick, took the first solo on each number with clarity of thought and execution top-drawer. Pianist Paul Edis invariably grabbed the second solo and with bassist Andy Champion and drummer Adam Sinclair on the stand a formidable piano trio more than held its own as Wilson listened with no little satisfaction. The new one – Turquoise – didn’t faze the boys in the band, sight-reading it as they went along (you couldn’t spot the joins).

A good crowd filled the Pink Lane jazz spot and a couple new to the area were suitably impressed and are sure to return keen to hear more. Living in Bedlington they have already found the Elephant (a jazz club in nearby Ashington, not the large cuddly animal in the corner of the safari park) and they’re in for a treat next month when the stupendous Strictly Smokin’ Big Band rolls into town.

The swinging funk of Remora kicked-off the second set with a sparkling Edis solo. The twisting, turning Toe of Fudge twisted and turned with Edis doing his best to emulate a studio-recorded take of his killing Hammond solo (we should hear it!). Wilson suggested this Jazz Café take was Edis at the upright Hammond. Cue band humour…’upright organ’ etc. Pleasureland (an amusement attraction in Arbroath) followed. By set list design or not – upright organ…Pleasureland. No further comment, Your Worship. The final number of the night – Honolulus – ripped the place apart. Stonking tenor, sanctifying piano, Andy ‘Arco’ Champion, in-the-pocket Adam Sinclair. The Graeme Wilson Quartet is a rare beast – rarely heard and when it is, it’s a rare treat.        

Russell.