Colin Aitchison, Franco Valussi & Steve Andrews @ The Black Bull. July 5

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.