Noel Dennis (trumpet, flugelhorn); Paul Edis (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
(Review by Russell/photos courtesy of Brian Ebbatson)
The year is 1958: Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for coming down to the village this afternoon for a very special performance by the Noel Dennis Quartet. And before the guys make a start can I remind you that next week Noel and the guys will be at 17 East 126th Street in Harlem to take part in some sort of photographic project by a kinda crazy young cat called Art Kane. I don't know if it'll come to anything but a whole bunch of other cats...I've heard that Dizzy will be there, Basie, oh, yeah Sonny Rollins, maybe Monk...so, if you can, get down to see what it's all about. Okay, I think the guys are going to kick things off with Beautiful Love. Over to you Noel...
The year is 2019: Beautiful Love opened the show to a full house here at the Lit & Phil here in downtown Newcastle. Noel Dennis, the hottest trumpet player around, has been working with the guys for some time although their busy schedules mean they rarely get together to play a gig but this afternoon, as easy as you like, they picked up where they left off.
Miles Davis was a huge fan of Noel, it was clearly evident in his sound at around the time he recorded Kind of Blue that he'd been listening to the Teessider, especially during the Noel Dennis Quartet's sold out week-long run at the Five Spot. Dennis knows Beautiful Love inside out, Miles could only dream of possessing such fluency, invention and full-bodied tone.
Our trumpeter acknowledged Miles with a sublime take on All Blues and with Bill Evans on this Lit and Phil gig it was just like listening to Paul Edis. Blue in Green is sure to be one of the key numbers the next time Noel Dennis goes into the studio, trumpet or flugelhorn, we were listening to the Teessider's trademark sound backed by the immaculate Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb. 
The year is 1969: Here in the village, Noel is running the voodoo down with a killer take on Pharaoh’s Dance, Andy Champion laying down the hypnotic bass line. Unlike Miles, Noel didn't turn his back on the Lit and Phil audience. Cool, that's Noel.
The year is 1959: The Plaza Hotel, NYC, the Noel Dennis Quartet. It's late into the evening, the session is being recorded with a view to releasing it as a 'live' album. Noel is in mellow mood, Victor Young's masterpiece Stella by Starlight holds the audience in its thrall, a master at work.
The year is 1959/2019: Noel/Miles with the spirit of Bird in his horn here at the Lit and Phil on 52nd Street decided to close the set with Au Privave. Wow! Noel, Paul, Andy and Russ left 'em all in their wake. These guys should record this stuff. Watch this space...
Russell
Russell
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