Trio Subtonic @ The Jazz Café Newcastle April 8

Galen Clark (keys/melodica/electronics); Greg Gottlieb (bs); Charlie Doggett (dms). 

(Review & photo by Lance./action shot courtesy of Mike Tilley).

The audience hit double figures and included a party frae Dundee. This prompted the thought that, if the Scots could cross the Roman Wall, why couldn't wor lot make it beyond the Byker Wall?

Still, the stay at homers' missed out. 

The Trio Subtonic, from Portland, Oregon, are groove merchants through and through. It's funky, it's jazzy, it sometimes gets your feet tapping whilst at other times it's a mind exercise as Clark creates subtle electronic sounds - giving a sonic, ethereal feel. He does this, not with a multi gizmo pedalboard as guitarists often distort their instrument's sound with, but effectively, with one unit and another small box of tricks. This electronic wizardry I can handle!

Clark plays fine keyboard but, it was the windblown keyboard - the melodica - that provided the icing. I sold a lot of melodicas when I worked in that place in the Central Arcade but I'd never heard one used so effectively as this.

Charlie Doggett on drums - a jazz name if ever there was one (Bill Doggett/Charlie Parker) - he lived up to expectations. His solo on the number at the end of the first set drew the applause - don't drum solos always do?

Greg Gottlieb, a southpaw, on bass, is from Australia and only depping for this tour but, would you have guessed?

Funky, groovy, riffs, tempo changes, mood swings. You should have been there - tele must have been good tonight!

All is not lost. Trio Subtonic play Southampton's Modern Jazz Club on Sunday and NUFC are kicking a ball around against Southampton on Saturday (today). What a weekend in store for those who like to combine the joys of listening to 3 underpaid men and the pain of watching 22 overpaid men practising their art!

I had to leave early as Metros and 27 buses aren't taxis and, cabs on a Friday night are in great demand.

However, before I left, Russell and I chatted with the trio. Being from Portland, Oregon, I mentioned Rebecca Kilgore. "Becky? Great singer", said Doggett. We were on the same wavelength!

Lance.
PS: Doggett's Coat and Badge).