Riviera Quartet @ Empty Shop, Durham - December 7

Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn & vocals), Mark Williams (guitar), John Pope (double bass) & Russ Morgan (drums)

(Review by Russell)

35c Framwellgate Bridge, Durham. Empty Shop was open for business on a freezing winter’s night. Upon arrival, proprietor Carlo just happened to be at the speakeasy’s door. Many in? enquired your correspondent. Yeah said our welcoming host. At the top of the stairs a ‘hello’ to JP, Mr John Pope. The bar snuggly warm, a Pinot Grigio and a bottle of Pavlov’s Dog the order, MC Tony Eales hadn’t reserved seats…tut tut! 

A few seats were available as Pete Tanton and co prepared to begin their first set. December in Durham, starting with Barbados, of course. Tanton is the Riviera Quartet’s principal composer and a second of the multi-talented ex-pat American’s tunes, a waltz – Turf War – followed. Pete Tanton opened on flugelhorn with master guitarist to his left, Mark Williams, ready to craft another amazing solo. (MW doesn’t do anything other than amazing). Tanton said the Rivieras were known for their ‘bossa, blues and bebop’. True enough. What they weren’t known for was Tanton’s vocals! Yes, as the trumpet and flugelhorn player would say during an interval chat he has always thought himself a ‘singer-songwriter’. The multi-talented Pete Tanton! His vocal style? Chet Baker-ish, plaintive, the voice of Johnny Lonely (Tanton’s first novel – Johnny Lonely – is required reading). A surprise, the kind of surprise that makes one exclaim: Well, I never!

Musically, the Riviera Quartet has developed apace. The core ‘bossa, blues and bebop’ remains in place, now with the addition of Tanton’s vocals (!), and, from time to time, the quartet introduced an element of freer improvisation. There is an easy going relationship between the four musicians and at one point during the evening Tanton turned to John Pope to ask how many bands the bassist is currently involved with. JP began to count on his fingers: There’s…and there is…and...then there is… losing count at nine. A few favourites from the pad were given an outing including  The Cat’s Reply and the set closer, Williams’ Booze Blues but this Empty Shop gig will be remembered for an unexpected occurrence, that of Pete Tanton singing. Check out the Riviera Quartet and you could hit lucky in hearing PT singing Lately I’ve Been Lonely or, perhaps, You Don’t Smile Anymore.           

Russell