Jazz Café Jam Tuesday September 2.

Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Paul Wight (dms) + Paul Gowland (alt); Johnny Davis (ten); Bradley Johnston (gtr); Jen Errington (vcl); Ian Forbes (dms); Ray Truscott (bs gtr); Oliver ? (dms); ? (bass).

(Review/colour photo by Lance. B&W photo by Mike Tilley).

Re-opened after the summer recess, "The Caff" was buzzing tonight. The air of expectancy high and the ultimate delivery even higher.

The house trio got off the mark with a set that included pieces by Horace Silver, Hampton Hawes and Bud Powell along with standards such as Autumn in New York and Beautiful Love. No one does this material better than Gilligan and co.

Paul Gowland, his alto underslung, excelled on A Night in Tunisia that moved along only slightly slower than the speed of light and certainly contained an element of surprise! More relaxing was My One and Only Love featuring a laid back solo from Grainger.

Truscott brought his six string bass guitar to the party, Johnson added a further six strings, Davis gave it some colour with his trademark blue hat and black lacquered tenor and le tout ensemble played I Wish I Knew How it Feels to be Free. They know now!

Days of Wine and Roses saw sanity restored. Ian Forbes took his place behind the re-arranged kit (Wight blows southpaw) and Bradley played a sensitive version of How Insensitive.

The tall and tanned Jen Errington, arrived on the back of a week in France under the tutelage of Anita Wardell and, judging by September in the Rain and Speak Low, it had obviously paid off.

Two more sitters in. Oliver, a student of Paul Wight's, played drums and a young bass player whose name I did get but have since forgotten. This is no reflection on the young man's playing (both he and Oliver were excellent) but more due to the intake of Geordie Jazz (4.3%) that brought on a short term memory lapse.

Photos.

Lance.