Alice Grace Quartet @ The Jazz Café - June 30

Alice Grace (vocals); Mark Williams (guitar); Paul Grainger (bass); Russ Morgan (drums).

(Review by Lance).

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... The best of times being Alice and her revamped quartet who gave an inspiring performance at The Caff last night. It began with Moon Valley, a Sir John Dankworth opus with lyric by Duncan Lamont which is, indeed, a true meeting of minds, and ended, for me, with Moon Alley by Tom Harrell that had words penned by Alice herself. 

The numbers in between included Monk's Ugly Beauty and Windows by Chick Corea the lyric of which was also by Alice. There were others, all sung to perfection and ably supported by Henchmen Williams, Grainger and Morgan. Williams had some knockout solos - doesn't he always? Grainger was at the top of his game and Morgan, whether with sticks, brushes or hands, did the business. Alice, of course, was, well, Alice. Marriage hasn't damaged her vocal chords. If anything, tying the knot may have enhanced them.

It was a good gig that deserved to fill the Arena - maybe she should tell jokes - which brings me to the worst of times...

I'd timed my exit to catch the Metro and then connect with the number 27 at either Heworth or Hebburn. A plan that usually works well.

The best-laid schemes etc...

Central Station was awash with humanity! Bomb scare? Terrorist threat?

No. It seems there was a stand-up comic* on at the Arena and such were the crowds he'd drawn that the station platforms couldn't cope with the droves and, as such, were being admitted as and when the platforms emptied.

This meant my carefully coordinated journey home was now in tatters so that when I did, finally, get on board a Sunderland train to Heworth the number 27 was long gone.

Fortunately, there was a taxi rank so I took a cab. Or, to be more precise, a people carrier which may be where my notebook ended up which is why my review of Alice's gig is rather more sketchy than normal. But, take my word for it, it was worth all the ensuing trauma!

Lance.

*Micky Flanagan.