Bruce Adams with the Paul Edis Trio @ Blaydon Jazz Club - September 15

Bruce Adams (trumpet, flugelhorn); Paul Edis (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); Russ Morgan (drums) 

(Review & right hand close-up by Russell/Band photos by Roly)

Blaydon Jazz Club, like most jazz clubs, has had its share of ups and downs...the halcyon days, the big names, the full houses, and, of course, the leaner times. Thirty five years almost to the day (September 14, 1984 to be exact) Blaydon Jazz Club booked a big name to work with the finest jazz piano trio around and, good on 'em, the regulars rallied round making the evening of September 15, 2019 one to remember.

Superstar trumpeter Bruce Adams thanked the Black Bull crowd for turning out, noting it had been twenty years since his last visit. Your reviewer sat there thinking: Twenty years?! It must have been across the road at the long gone Blaydon House Sports and Social Club. Back in the day pianist Billy Harper held court, this evening it was down to Paul Edis to provide impeccable support. 

Tightly-muted and open horn trumpet, full-bodied flugelhorn, a masterful excursion on cornet, Scot Adams led a marvellous session of non-stop swinging jazz. Detailing each and every spotlight solo by all four musicians - Adams, Edis, bassist Andy Champion and drummer Russ Morgan - would take for ever and a day, suffice to say everything - that's innumerable solo spots and ensemble work - was top drawer, a truly wonderful concert which wouldn't have been out of place on Frith Street, Soho or what's left of 52nd St., NYC.

If I Should Lose You, Some Time Ago (Adams observed Art Farmer recorded the number with Jim Hall, Blaydon Jazz Club's Roly Veitch concurred), You've Changed (Billie Holiday made it her own), it became clear the evening's honoured guest had put together a choice set list. Turning to drummer Russ Morgan, Adams noted Lee Morgan - Uncle Lee, said our trumpeter - recorded Hank Mobley's This I Dig of You to which Russ replied: Yes, whatever happened to Uncle Lee? Suffice to say Adams' opening volley lit the blue touch paper. For Wynton Kelly, Paul Chambers and Art Blakey read Edis, Champion and Morgan. Fantastic! To close a fine first set the quartet (truly a quartet of equals) paid homage to Doris Day playing It's You or No One. 

During the interval a genial Adams made time for everyone - talking shop with musicians, reminiscing with fans and shifting a fair number of CDs with a sale of the century two for one offer - then, in no time, with another Deuchar's to attend to, the second set was upon us.   

Tightly muted trumpet introduced Gone with the Wind supported by a swinging trio. Moments like these are to be treasured. Recado Bossa Nova from Hank Mobley's Blue Note Dippin' album showcased Russ Morgan's unsurpassed hand drumming and a stupendous, make that yet another stupendous solo from Andy Champion. 

Ben Webster and Miles Davis recorded Old Folks. Hearing Adams play the thirties' number on cornet was a privilege, not least when our guest stood to one side to listen to Paul Edis craft a sublime solo. Quite a way to mark Blaydon Jazz Club's first thirty five years! 

BSH's County Durham correspondent Tony Eales, sitting front row, played the straight man to Adams' plunger-bought-in-a-USA-hardware-store gag (TE had heard it a thousand times) then, with plunger in hand, our trumpeter set sail On a Slow Boat to China. Flugelhorn on Skylark then it was just about time to go. A supercharged Flintstones raced round the room. No question about it, world class trumpeter Bruce Adams knew he was in similar stellar company. Thanks to Adams, Edis, Champion and Morgan it had been a night to remember. 

Russell