Still Awake: Teresa Danby & Bert Louissen @ Prohibition Bar - Sept. 11

Teresa Danby (vocals); Bert Louissen (piano, guitar, vocals)

Bert Louissen first came onto BSH's radar at Newcastle Jazz Co-op's Railway Street HQ. On that occasion the Dutchman was singing Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder. Tonight at Prohibition Bar Bert was in the company of singer Teresa Danby. The duo, calling themselves Still Awake, would play three relaxed sets of popular pop numbers.

Carole King and James Taylor to  Leonard Cohen and Marc Cohn to Paul McCartney to Sting the vocal harmonies were a delight. An unassuming couple, Teresa and Bert didn't attempt to reinvent the musical wheel, rather they paid due respect to the material. Teresa sang, Bert likewise with expert chordal accompaniment on keyboards and guitar.  

Two intervals afforded time to sit and chat to Teresa and Bert about all manner of things...the pandemic, lockdown, gigging/not gigging, favourite songs (with Bert sweetly singing lyrics from myriad tunes). On the subject of favourite songs, Still Awake chose some gems...Marc Cohn's Walking in Memphis, Sam Cooke's Wonderful World, Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi and, keeping it local, Sting's take on the 1929 West End song from Mr Cinders, Spread a Little Happiness, which the former Policeman sang on the film soundtrack of Dennis Potter's Brimstone and Treacle which originated as a television play in the mid-seventies.

Mitch and the Prohibition Bar team have made strenuous efforts to make the premises as Covid-secure as it is possible to be (other venues take note!) without sacrificing the relaxed, welcoming ambiance for which the Pink Lane venue is renowned. It's to be hoped that Still Awake - Teresa and Bert - will be offered a return engagement.        

Russell