Livestream: JazzMain - July 17

Nick Gould (tenor sax); Steve Grossart (piano); Iain Harkness (bass guitar); Kevin Dorrian (drums).

Much as I love JazzMain, I have to confess I came to this one feeling like a shell-shocked soldier returning from the trenches. Battle fatigue had set in. I mean, as much as I love jazz, there comes a time when you want to curl up with a good book and forget that music - any kind of music exists.

However, when a good friend of BSH - Nick Gould - beckoned and invited me to listen to his latest session I reluctantly made my way over to his Facebook page where JazzMain had just finished a half-hour set.

I rewound (so to speak) and we were off into Ode to Billy Joe. You remember Billy Joe?, he jumped off the Tallahassee Bridge in mysterious circumstances. Well the mystery wasn't solved here up in Edinburgh but one thing was sure this wasn't going to cause anyone to jump off the Forth Bridge - apart from maybe a few saxophone players.

Yes, despite having being sidelined for a while, the JazzMain team were on song. Next up was Duncan Lamont's Old Brazil. Lamont is remembered fondly as a sax player but often overlooked as a composer. This number put the matter straight.

Unlike some other "streamers", Nick doesn't go into chapter and verse on each and every number. He no doubt assumes that his audience know the score which is probably true, most of the time. However, although I recognised the last two tunes I couldn't put a title to them. 

It didn't matter, it gave me the lift I needed to face the 14 CDs that landed in the passage yesterday. When social distancing is lifted and I have friends round for drinks they're going to love the coasters and beer mats laid out for their drinks.

Lance.

JazzMain won't be among the coasters - they'll be on the player!