Bradley Johnston Quartet @ The Bridge Hotel - April 19

Bradley Johnston (gtr); Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Tim Johnston (dms).
(Review by Lance/photos courtesy of Ken Drew).

The penultimate gig in the long-running Splinter Sunday night sessions at the Bridge Hotel, Newcastle was tinged with the sad knowledge that, after next week, they will be no more. 

Tirelessly organised by Andy Champion and Zoe Gilby the concerts showcased a countless number of bands and musicians from across the region and further afield - sometimes in conjunction with JNE.

Thank you both for some memorable evenings.

Tonight saw the Splinter début  of young guitarist Bradley Johnston alongside some equally talented older hands in a sedate set of standards, Bradley originals and Pat Metheny tunes.

Jazz chamber music played to perfection by all four to a background of respectful silence.

The second set opened with Bradley moving from semi-acoustic Ibanez to electro-acoustic (was it Takamine?) to play a gorgeous solo version of the Beatles' And I Love Her. This could arguably be said to be the best ever Beatles' tune and, in the young guitarist's hands, it certainly sounded just that.

One became two as Paul Grainger returned for a Metheny tune - I didn't catch the title - that had a distinctly pastoral feel to it.

Two became three with Tim Johnston (no relation) behind the kit for a swingy All the Things You Are.

Finally, all four were reunited for a Bradley original - A Fast Waltz - then How Insensitive and My Favourite Things brought things to a close.

Not a gig to blow your mind, rather one to relax and reflect upon and to simply enjoy such masterful playing by all four.

The final gig next Sunday is a JNE concert by YANA - not the late actress/singer nor an administrative capital in Bauchi State, Nigeria, but a trio with Corey Mwamba on vibes, Dave Kane on bass and Josh Blackmore on drums.

Lance.