Pete Tanton (trumpet & flugelhorn), Mark Williams (guitar), John Pope (double bass) & Russ Morgan (drums)
(Review by Russell/photo courtesy of Debra Milne)
The band arrived at the Globe three hours in advance of the advertised eight o’clock start. The annual Blaydon Road Race from Balmbras to the (now demolished) Geordie Ridley (5.6 miles, 4500 runners) would see city centre roads closed for several hours. Summer weather and re-routed traffic – would an audience make it to Jazz Co-op HQ?
Pete Tanton’s Riviera Quartet opened with two numbers by the bandleader: Barbados (in Caribbean-like temperatures, minus the scenery) and You Don’t Smile. Tanton played his flugelhorn on both tunes, sounding great from the start, projecting a warm, rounded tone. Mark Williams’ distinctly bop-ish There, There, There (or is it Their etc?) heard Tanton’s muted trumpet and the singing bass man John Pope (JP has taken to singing along to his solo features!) topped-off with Russ Morgan expertly dispatching fours.
A Tanton waltz (Turf War) and Williams’ Booze Blues (Williams and Morgan engaging in a superb dialogue) closed out a fine first set.
The audience – yes, a fair number made the effort to get to the Globe – recharged glasses and settled down for more of the Riviera Good Life. Sonny Rollins’ theme to Alfie began in 1960s super-cool fashion. Tanton and Williams took to the stand and started to play as Pope and Morgan were cruising on La Grand Corniche with Bardot and Delon. The bass and drums boys parked the Porsche, sauntered on to the stand and were in the pocket just like that. Cool or what?!
Tanton’s The Cat’s Reply hinted at a Chano Pozo rhythm and, to close an enjoyable set, a swinging blues heard from all four members of the Riviera Quartet. Pete Tanton can look forward to promoters from Tyneside to the French Riviera booking the band. A top class outfit, catch them at a gig soon.
Russell.
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