Colin Aitchison
(trumpet & vocals), Franco Valussi (clarinet), Steve Andrews (tenor
saxophone), Roly Veitch (guitar) & Roy Cansdale (bass guitar) +Jim
McBriarty (clarinet)
(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Jeanie Aitchison)
Crossing the Redheugh Bridge menacing storm clouds hung over
Blaydon. They weren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Fork lightning, sheet
lightning…welcome to Blaydon! On this Sunday night the weather didn’t play
ball. Fine weather all week, then an hour before gig time thunder and lightning
threatened to make it a wash-out. Jazz club organiser Roly Veitch ran through a
few things with guests ex-pat trumpeter Colin Aitchison and clarinet maestro
Franco Valussi. Would anyone turn-up?
Eight o’clock;
few people had taken their seats. Two numbers in and latecomers made for a
respectable turn-out. In a Mellotone
then Sugar. It made braving the
elements worth it, well worth it. The frontline – Aitchison, Valussi and Steve
Andrews (tenor) – had already laid down top rate solos and more were to follow.
Moten Swing, Royal Garden Blues, the
small group swing absolutely immaculate. Aitchison asked Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? in his brilliant take on
Satchmo’s classic vocal style. So impressed was Steve Andrews that he wondered
out loud: What you been drinkin?’
This the first of Andrews’ many witty
asides.
Aitchison asked
Veitch (guitar) to set the tempo on China Boy. The tempo set, the boys in the
band did their best to keep up! Fabulous rhythm section work from Veitch, and
all the way from Gloucestershire, bassist Roy Cansdale. Aitchison and Andrews
were in need of a rest (visit to the bar) and left it to Hong Kong-based
Italian clarinetist Franco Valussi to show what he could do on Moonglow. FV is a great musician – it is
a treat to hear him on Tyneside. Rhythm ace Veitch threw in a top solo on A Smooth One ahead of Aitchison’s solo
feature I Want a Little Girl (trumpet
and vocal). The Wallsend-born Aitchison plays great trumpet, sings, and,
something of a rarity, is an entertainer into the bargain. Playing second
fiddle, Steve Andrews nevertheless impressed. Every time he blew tenor it was
so good. His solo feature – East of the
Sun (West of the Moon) – encapsulated his sound, so much a fan of Coleman
Hawkins.
Kowloon has a fabulous
clarinetist, so does Newcastle.
Byker-born Jim McBriarty joined the band for a few tunes kicking off with Crazy Rhythm. All excelled, not least
Cansdale, undemonstrative yet on top of it. Indiana pitched the two clarinetists into the
spotlight. A contrast in styles, singularly masterful of instrument. A Sunday
night in Blaydon offering world-class jazz. Can you believe it? It rained Pennies from Heaven (McBriarty and the
rhythm strings superb) sang Aichison. Rosetta
and more. Tune after tune, great playing.
In a fortnight –
Sunday 19th – the Black Bull is the place to be to hear the Ruth Lambert Trio.
Ms Lambert will sing original compositions and a choice selection from the Great
American Songbook in the company of master guitarist Giles Strong and Mick
Shoulder (double bass). This concert is one for lovers of the intimate
interpretation of a lyric. See you there.
Blaydon Photos (Recent).
Russell.
Aitchison asked
Veitch (guitar) to set the tempo on 
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