Duende @ The Bridge Hotel. March 29

Steve Glendinning (guitar) & Mark Williams (guitar)

(Review by Russell/Photo courtesy of Ken Drew).

As has become the norm, the on-first-name-terms audience turned out to support Splinter @ the Bridge. At short notice Mark Williams helped out friend and fellow guitarist Steve Glendinning when a proposed quartet gig fell through. The prospect of two fine guitarists playing a few tunes together didn't deter the faithful.

Steve Glendinning took the lead on the opening number Stella by Starlight. SG can play! Mark Williams took up the challenge and typical of the self-effacing Irishman, laid down an equally impressive solo. 
MW examined My Favourite Things and SG offered a second opinion on the standard. SG suggested a ballad – Bill Evans’ Time Remembered. MW is a man of few words, he nodded agreement and they played most sensitively. The ‘gig’ was, in essence, more ‘recital’, ‘jazz guitar recital’ at that. My Funny Valentine heard SG, then MW, the bass strings accompaniment of both men a delight. Pat Metheny’s Hermitage (a Metheny tune is all but compulsory!) closed a fine first set.

Second set. A bossa, a waltz.  A disinterested punter or two wandered down to the bar, in so doing distracting those keen to listen. Worse, two tanked-up second-set freeloaders did their best/worst to disturb the collective concentration – what is it with these people? 
Yes, the music…Charlie Haden’s Our Spanish Love Song just about topped the lot. Just about… All the Things You Are concluded the evening and stole the show. Superb playing from two excellent guitarists – Messrs Glendinning and Williams. 
Next Sunday (Easter Sunday), April 5 Tom Harrison (alto) makes a welcome return visit with his quartet.

Russell.