Richard
Burns (trumpet), Gary Turner (tenor), Paul Edis (keyboards), Paul Susans (bass)
& Rob Walker (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Mid January, credit card max-out,
blowing a gale, raining – every excuse/reason not to get out to a gig. Hoochie
Coochie, one of Newcastle ’s
classier music venues, was open for business. A few turned-out to hear the
‘house band’, five of the north east’s busiest and best musicians calling
themselves the ‘Pilgrim Street Set’.
Main Man Paul Susans absented
himself from the opening number – a dodgy bass amp necessitated a dash across town to pick up a
spare – leaving the other ‘Main Man’, Rob Walker, to get the funking thing
going. And this is one funking great band! Mid tune (a Paul Edis number titled We All Get Along) Main Man Susans
returned, shuffled-off his winter coat, tracing some funking dance steps as he
did so to orchestrated cheers (front man Richard Burns had set us up!), plugged
in and was instantly in the groove!
The Main Men of the band – Sly
and Robbie/Susans and Walker
– are funk merchants par excellence. Susans (sporting a winter beard) probably
didn’t miss a beat during his short absence (it’s as if he’s wired-in) and Walker probably hasn’t
missed one funking beat in his life!
Some of the band’s material comes from seemingly unlikely sources. A bop number
or two, yes, then Art Pepper, Ornette Coleman and Gong! Gong? The PSS (Pilgrim
Street Set) can turn anything into a groove. Out front Richard Burns plays free
Miles (and muted Miles, and some focused Burns’ trumpet playing). Alongside
Aussie Burns is the PSS’s secret weapon. Gary Turner (tenor) lurks in the
shadows, avoiding a Hoochie Coochie spotlight whenever possible. When called
upon he steps up, tenor sax locked-on to a mic. Turner thinks a solo, the
listener can almost hear him thinking. The noise is awesome, blowing away any
wannabees in the audience (back to the woodshed).
This is a band full of Main Men.
Susans and Walker, Burns and Turner. Then there is a fifth Main Man…Dr Paul
Edis. Funking Horace Silver of course and some swinging jazz piano (Susans and
Walker ever willing). The PSS are in residence third Thursday in the month.
Date for your diary – Hoochie Coochie, February 19. What’s your excuse?
Russell.
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