The Lindsay Hannon Plus @ The Jazz Café. March 18

Lindsay Hannon (vocals), Alan Law (keyboards), John Pope (double bass) & Russ Morgan (drums)

(Review by Russell/photo courtesy of Mike Tilley.)

I am Lindsay Hannon and these are ‘the Plus’ said vocalist Hannon, pointing to the boys in the band. A good Friday night crowd turned out to hear Hannon sing a selection of the standard jazz repertoire and a few leftfield choices. The bar did good business, albeit via regular trips to the downstairs bar. Hold the front page! Ms Hannon appeared to be in an alcohol-free state of mind…the pint glass at hand appeared to contain nothing other than water.

Joni’s Hissing of Summer Lawns to Tom Waits by way of Fats Waller and a bluesy Monk the Jazz Café crowd were there to listen. Hannon’s trio hit the heights from the off. Piano player of choice to many, Alan Law always plays the notes in the right order; a blue note master, the right phrase at the right time, every time. JP, bassist John Pope sounded better than ever (matching haircut) and drummer Russ Morgan has established himself as one of the region’s ‘first call’ musicians. Hannon’s vocal range and ready invention succeeds in keeping the listener guessing. Whichever way she chooses to take a tune it works out. An A-list trio behind her on this gig allowed Hannon to take off in unexpected directions and the boys were right there, every step of the way.  

No More Blues with its slurred vocal phrasing, Law’s lazy, funk groove reworking of a St Louis Blues that you’re unlikely to hear in banjo territory down Cullercoats way and Miss Otis Regrets (JP’s arco intro) a late-night treat, Hannon scored A+ (as in ‘Plus’). The Jazz Café’s Thursday night crowd heard drummer Paul Smith in top form with a party piece of a solo. Twenty-four hours on Russ Morgan matched Smith’s Herculean effort. Brushes in hand, what a solo on a Hannon staple, Nature Boy! A class singer, a class rhythm section, an ace of a gig.

Russell.