Gerry Richardson Quintet Live and Online @ The Globe - Oct. 4

Gerry Richardson (organ/vocals); Garry Linsley (alto sax); Rod Sinclair (guitar); Paul Smith (drums); Graham Hare (congas/perc.).

It's been a good week for the organ groovers and there's more to come.

Thursday, at Ronnie's saw James Taylor laying down a pretty high benchmark. Friday, we had Kate Westbrook's incredible  take on Wind in the Willows that featured northeast hero, the late Mike Carr, reminding us just what a great player he was and an inspiration for every one who came later.

Tonight, it was Gerry Richardson's turn in the spotlight and he opted to forsake the, heavy to hump, Hammond for the more compact Crumar. It didn't matter, Gerry had his Mojo working - what's in a name? In the right hands and feet it's all down to the player.

Lockdown, quarantine, social distancing - Garry hangs out in Cumbria which is well and truly socially distanced. Fortunately, The Jazz Co-op's redesigned downstairs' bar at The Globe enables government guidelines to be observed to the letter. Going to a bar or a pub these days is a bit like visiting someone in jail (or so I imagine) you  are subjected to everything but a body search.

However, I digress, let's talk about the music. As always, the band hit the deck running, lock into the groove and cares about the world outside vanish. The score is 5-0 already!

In addition to the ever driving Paul Smith, as usual playing his socks off, we had Graham Hare on congas putting even more power into the engine room. Think congas, think Latin - right? Wrong! They may have added a touch of South America but their main contribution was to give that extra kick.

Rod Sinclair brought his Strat along but he stayed 

with the Telecaster. Not a bad choice. I'm not a guitarist but I personally find the Tele has a jazzier sound but maybe it's like the B3 and the Mojo, it's all down to who is in the driving seat.

Garry Linsley is, in many ways, worthy of further recognition. He's a relatively unsung hero due, I suppose to living at yon side of the Pennines. However, when he's parachuted in for a Tyneside gig a whole lot of sax players head for the woodshed and, if they don't, they should!

I'm not going to list the numbers, you've probably heard them but that's what I like about this band they always seem to make it sound as though you are hearing them for the first time.

In a couple of weeks time, Ross Stanley is at The Globe with Nigel Price and Vasi X. It will be interesting to hear yet another organist - bet he can't sing like Gerry!

Lance

(Photos by Russell apart from the one of Garry which is by Lance)