Greg Abate (alt/fl); Paul Edis (pno); Mick Shoulder (bs); Adam Sinclair (dms).
(Review by Lance).
Once upon a time, in a bygone age, American jazz musicians in and around Newcastle were the norm with Jazz North East the main instigators,
Those days, like most of the musicians, are long gone. Not last night though. This JNE concert by Greg Abate held up against any of his illustrious predecessors and indeed his own past three visits.
Despite a late arrival (probably leaves on the line) and no warm-up (unless he'd blown a few scales and arpeggios in between carriages), Abate hit the deck and hit it hard with an On Green Dolphin Street inspired number that told us that all was well. Jazz waltzing with Bluesette kept the pot boiling including some delightful interplay 'twixt piano and alto. Edis, recently spent a few days in the Big Apple and his playing throughout the evening suggested that he too was a native New Yorker.
Contemplation, an original, Abate D minor blues got the feet tapping whilst Easy Living equated with balladry at its best. Mrs T (Greg's mother in-law), an up tempo workout on It Could Happen to You, gave Adam Sinclair space - has he also been to Manhattan?
With a [Mick] Shoulder to lean on, I wonder, has Abate found a better rhythm section during his travels the length and breadth of the land?
An Edis original, was it Mikey Samba, saw the American sight-reading it on flute and, despite a false start, it soon sounded as though he'd been playing it all his life!
Moonlight in Vermont, apart from the solos, had cadenzas from all four musicians. Brubeck's best ever tune - In Your Own Sweet Way - taken slightly faster than the record swung like the proverbial with Adam once more let loose but, for speed, Confirmation broke all land, sea and air records.
Take Five saw the evening out and what an evening it had been. Masterful alto saxophone playing with a rhythm section to die for.
During the interval, Greg, a stogie in his mouth and heading for the door asked me for a light. The one time in my life when I wished I were a smoker!
Lance.
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