Acoustic Infusion @ Dormans Jazz Club Middlesbrough-March 5

Richie Emmerson, Alan Thompson (tenor/soprano sax); Rick Loughlin (keys/synth.); Bruce Rollo (double bass); Ian Halford (drums).

(Review/photo by Ron H)

Paying tribute to the great bebop saxophonists, this line up of musicians delighted the large audience with both the choice of numbers and the quality of musicianship, and thus keeping up the high standard of our guest band nights.

An up tempo Cheese Cake from the Dexter Gordon Go album started the night in fine style with exciting solos from both Richie and Alan on tenors, Rick on keys and synthesizer and all with excellent backing  from Bruce on bass and Ian on drums, This set the standard for what was to follow.

By contrast, the moody Benny Golson's Whisper Not, with Alan on soprano,  slowed things down before the tempo was raised again with Wayne Shorter's Black Nile giving Ian the  chance to kick the kit around. After the driving Blues March, Alan was featured playing tenor on the  beautifully melodic Rainbow People.

The classic Sonny Rollins' Doxy featured the two tenors and a fine bass solo from Bruce. The set was brought to a close with the Latinish Catalonia Nights that included a dramatic synthesizer solo from Rick.

Sonny Rollins' Tenor Madness was an appropriate number to start the second set with Richie and Alan providing the (musical) madness. After Oliver Nelson's version of Stolen Moments  with Richie on soprano the band then took Coltrane's Some Other Blues apart with great dynamics and wonderful interplay between all members before putting it back together again.

Richie proved that, despite the title, You Don't Know What Love Is, he most certainly could blow lovingly on a ballad as did Rick on keys. 

Dexter Gordon's swinging Montmartre was followed by Joe Henderson's oft-played composition -  Recorda Me  (Remember Me).

After such a successful night, an encore was demanded and Mr PC with intro from Rick and terrific solos all round, brought the evening to a close.

Once again the guest band with Rick as musical director proved their worth by playing some of the best and most exciting bebop arrangements  heard in the club providing the audience with a memorable night of music.

Again our thanks must go to the management and staff of Dormans Club for their help and support with this weekly jazz event.

Ron H