JazzMain @ Jazz Café - June 19

Nick Gould (ten); Steve Grossart (pno); John Hay (bs gtr); Kevin Dorrian (dms).

(Review by Lance).

Is Newcastle a jazz city? On the evidence of recent gigs I'm beginning to wonder. Last Saturday the Brian Molley Quartet drove down from Glasgow to play at the Globe. Last night, at "The Caff", JazzMain came down from Edinburgh. 
Both bands were excellent. Both audiences were prominent by their absence, only just reaching double figures on each occasion. Where were the 'fans' who pack out the fortnightly jams? Where are the students who attend the various instrumental courses peppered around the city? The hordes who attend the various festivals? Of course, they're at the Town Moor! All the fun of the fair - The Hoppings instead of the Boppings at the Pink Lane Jazzerie!
However, 'nuff said, let's get back to tonight! Four excellent jazzers fronted by Gould who blows tenor to the north of Zoot Sims and to the south of Coltrane - his God, he told us, George Coleman.

Grossart equally formidable on piano with sound backing from Dorrian and Hay - the latter playing his first gig with the band.

A good mix of standards - Sunday in New York (the Bobby Darin hit well worth reviving); Speak Low; Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most; Tangerine (famously recorded by Chet Baker as Margerine!). Jazz classics - Tin Tin Deo; Amsterdam After Dark; The Chicken to mention but some many of which feature on JazzMain's album A Sound For Sore Ears (April's CD of the Month).

As the room hotted up band jackets were removed revealing a collection of striped shirts that are probably this year's Hearts/Hibs away strips.

What a cracking evening and You missed it (and You!)
Photos.

Lance.

PS: Newcastle may have been under represented but the international ambience that the late Crombie was so proud of was maintained by the presence of a young man from Switzerland.