(Review by Lance/photos courtesy of Ken Drew).
Zoë had been scheduled to sing at a Whitley Bay eaterie but fortunately, for us, unfortunately for her, the gig was cancelled at the last minute so we had a top class chanteuse to compensate for the minimal number of jammers present.
After a couple of impressive Alan Law originals, one of which - a jazz waltz - contained a piano solo to die for, Mrs Champion gave out with Bye Bye Blackbird. This must be one of the most often played tunes ever yet, unlike say Summertime, to me it always sounds fresh and Zoë's version did it no harm at all.
Next up, a new face on the scene - Matt Müller - yet another talented young pianist! A delicate, probing, intriguing version of Georgia on my Mind. Hoagy's classic is another song that's been around the block a few times but, like Blackbird, in the right hands it can be more than 'just an old sweet song' and I'm pleased to report that, with Müller, it was in the right hands. Welcome to Jazzland NE1 Matt.
He followed up with Watermelon Man.
Alan Law returned to the Roland set up with Andy Champion at the bass and a rolling blues that segued into Night Train with just a hint of Splanky thrown into the mix.
Interval time which meant refuelling and catching up with Norman and BSH contributer JC.
That Gilby woman got the second set moving in tandem with husband Andy on bass and Paul Simon's Graceland followed by one from her back catalogue - West Coast Blues.
The house trio of Law, Pope & Marriott reconvened for There is no Greater Love - now there's a number that should be heard more often, particularly when it contains those big fat juicy block chords that Law lays down.
Müller gave us Billy Taylor's I Wish I Knew How it Felt to be Free (did Taylor write anything else?!), Zoë sang Wave and the trio wrapped it up with All the Things You Are - nice basswork from John Pope and some forceful drumming from Marriott combined to make this a fitting end to a grand evening that had ne'er a Noel in sight!
Back on January 18.
Lance.
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