Nick Hempton Band live streaming from GB's Juke Joint, NYC - Dec. 28

Nick Hempton (alto/tenor sax); Peter Bernstein (guitar); Kyle Koehler (Hammond B3); Fukushi Tainaka (drums).

(Screenshots by Russell)

An absolute gem of a session. GB's Juke Joint isn't, as the name might imply, a neighbourhood bar populated by low-lifes and ne'er-do-wells but a New York recording studio where Nick Hempton recorded Night Owl - reviewed here last year -  and which provided some of the material played  tonight.

The opener, Back on the Dole Again, got things moving with a nice groove. All four guys at the top of their game. Interestingly, I always thought that being "on the dole" was a purely British expression. Whatever, certainly an appropriate title for today.

Cold Call again had that post bop feel to it. It is just so delightful to hear relatively straight ahead jazz as opposed to some of the sounds of today that sail under the J flag

On the album, It Shouldn't Happen to a Dream was played beautifully and that performance was matched tonight. On alto or tenor Hempton has the sound  and the technique to go with it as he proved on Short Shrift where his fingers danced on the keys like the feet of a latter-day Astaire. I particularly liked the half-time ending, a ploy that is seemingly forgotten these days but very effective when applied sparingly.

10th St. Turnaround, also from Night Owls, is a swinger. The title itself brings to mind Hamp's Central Avenue Breakdown. Hemp's tune is in that league. 

There can be few more versatile guitarists than Bernstein he can duke it out with the best in any style and tonight his jazz chops were exquisitely displayed.

The evening was rounded off with the title track of the album. Koehler, masked and hatted, looked cool but the fire that burst from the B3 was like Vesuvius erupting. Tainaka had been relatively laid-back but when the chips were down he too kicked ass.

The band have a new album out in the spring but, in the meantime, you'll not go far wrong with Night Owls.

Lance