Rick Laughlin (piano, keyboards);
Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax); MJ
(guitar)
(Review by Russell)
Charts' weekly jazz social continues
to engage top class trios to entertain Quayside diners and drinkers. For 'jazz
social' read 'jam session'. Sunday's late afternoon session welcomed Rick
Laughlin, up from County Durham, to play three leisurely sets in the company of
Paul Grainger and Abbie Finn.
What is this thing called love? the trio enquired.
Pianist Rick Laughlin sat at the venue's Steck piano which, in truth, could do
with some TLC. Laughlin has a liking for seventies' synth sounds and on this
gig brought along a mini keyboard which he perched on top of the acoustic
piano. During the afternoon our pianist would utilise both
keyboards. 
Tenor saxophonist Harry Keeble was on
the premises from the off and would make several telling contributions; a
ballad, a seventies' funk thing and an uptempo Autumn Leaves for
starters.
Laughlin scored with an
excellent In a Sentimental Mood and again on Days of
Wine and Roses with mainstay bassist Paul Grainger doing the business.
Guitarist MJ, a familiar face on the jam session scene, suggested some
Django. Nuages, with volume levels just right, ie low, enabled the
audience to focus on the melody and MJ's exploration of the enduring
number. Minor Swing followed with our guitarist going down a
distinct Chet Atkins' country road.
The never-less-than excellent Abbie
Finn shuffled things along on The Charleston and with tenor
man Keeble back on the stand All the Things You Are going
straight into Blue Monk concluded a third and final set of an
enjoyable late afternoon-early evening 'jazz social'.
Last but by no means least, indeed
purposely reserved 'til last, special mention of a mid-session Trane double
header; Harry Keeble calling Naima and Impressions.
Simply outstanding, top marks to Trane, Tyner, Garrison and Jones, collectively
aka Keeble, Laughlin, Grainger and Finn.
Russell
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