Graeme Wilson Quintet @ Opus 4, Travellers Rest, Darlington January 20.

Noel Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn), Graeme Wilson (tenor sax), Paul Edis (piano), Mick Shoulder (bass), Adam Sinclair (drums).

(Review by Steve T)

That great Modern Jazz warhorse, from bebop pioneers Bird and Diz and Bird and Miles, through Miles and Trane and Miles and Wayne and a timely return to Darlo with Noel and Graeme. To these ears, nothing in Jazz can quite match the standard quintet.

An enthusiastic crowd of around thirty knew these musicians well but were almost entirely the senior male end, which is a shame cos a relative youngster and a relatively young couple turned up and clearly got it. Another chap told me his missus was supposed to come but then couldn't, which is a shame cos you know she'd have got it too. Hasn't anybody told the young people of Darlo that Jazz is cool again, like it ever wasn't?

Straight into Airegin by Sonny Rollins with a round of solos, sans drums, to get everyone - band and audience - warmed up.

Then the warm and likeable Scotsman - like a Geordie with his brains intact - promised some standards and some Trane. Normally his quartet play his original music, which is great cos he can write too, but it seemed appropriate with the brass, and a welcome change for him to pay tribute to some of his influences.

Then, just to keep us on our toes, he played one of his own, I think called Strolling with Mae.

Fe Fi Fo Fum followed from Wayne Shorter, and no surprise that Noel Dennis suggested it. It's great that Shorter is increasingly being recognised as one of the greats; despite a critically acclaimed solo career spanning over half a century, being one of the great Jazz Messengers and, with Zawinul, the only constant presence in Weather Report, his most golden and most high profile gig, as a towering figure in the Second Great Quintet, was spent under the shadow of the saxophonist in the first great Miles Davis Quintet.

Which brings us nicely to the next piece and the man who must be his primary influence, with a cut from Giant Steps called Syeeda’s Song Flute.

Jobim’s No More Blues closed side one with some excellent Brazilia from Noel and some suitably Latin drums and percussion from Adam. Dennis, typically alternating between trumpet and flugel, took the first solo, laying down the gauntlet and the leader (and spiritual leader of those of us smitten by bright coloured shirts), typically responded in fine fettle. Lord Paul is never not on form but tonight he was positively on fire, regular hints of humour coming through amongst his huge reservoir of references. Sinclair took his only solo of the first part, illustrating why he's up with the best of the North East’s impressive ranks of Jazz drummers.

Side two opened with more Trane and some Lee Morgan, but I was listening on the way out as my much better half confirmed I'd consumed sufficient Guinness, and that number two son loves that Friday night warhorse, the standard Chinese takeaway supper.

The programme at the club is highly impressive right through to July, not least the next night, on Feb 10 when Lord Paul and his trio are playing it straight for the return to the region of the inimitable Alan Barnes for his first appearance since his triumphant Christmas Carol Concert.

Steve T.