Playtime Collective @ The Jazz Cafe – March 25

Martin Kershaw (alto sax); Graeme Stephen (guitar); Mario Caribe (bass); Tom Bancroft (drums).

(Review by Steve H/Photo courtesy of Ken Drew).

This was an amazingly good Jazz North East gig which just got better and better as the night progressed. The quartet play together fortnightly in an upstairs bar in Edinburgh (The Outhouse) where the evenings take on themes not only featuring jazz greats such as Charles Mingus, Ornette Coleman and Keith Jarrett but also themes such as film nights or TV programmes. For example, there was a glorious rendition of the Match of the Day theme then a merger of 2 children’s favourites The Magic Roundbarb and Custardabout (aka The Magic Roundabout and Rhubarb and Custard).

Tom Bancroft was both informative and self-effacing with his very humorous introductions. He informed the audience that the first ever tune Martin Kershaw had written for the band was called Irritant and Bancroft suggested that it was inspired by himself. As you would expect from such fine musicians (all bandleaders in their own right) the quality of the musicianship was superb. However, what I enjoyed most about the gig was that, although the band had their own distinctive sound, the variety and style of songs that they played always kept me interested and entertained. I am certainly looking forward to seeing them again whenever they return or failing that as a good excuse to visit Edinburgh.
Steve H.