KSTV: Live stream - Feb. 17

Noah Stoneman (piano); Will Sach (bass); Will Cleasby (drums).

(Screenshots by Ken Drew)

What can I say that hasn't already been said? Smitty's has a pool of great musicians. Perm any three from n and you are guaranteed an enjoyable evening's jazz.

Tonight was no exception, the walls didn't come tumbling down and, I guess, the regulars wouldn't want it any other way - I certainly didn't - but it beat listening on the radio to Sunderland going to Wembley although, naturally, I'm glad they did!

A good choice of tunes, not all announced, and I hold my hand up and confess that I wrongly identified Wonderful! Wonderful! as I'm Lucky to be me! This was inexcusable as the Tubby Hayes' version of the latter tune is one of my all time faves so consider yourself lucky not to be me!

Other numbers included (trust me!): Up Against the Wall (Coltrane); Windows (Corea); Easy to Remember; Theme For Ernie (Coltrane); Pretty Ballad (Jarrett) and Just One of those Things.

One of the interesting things about tonight were Cleasby's drum solos. Unlike most drum solos he was actually playing with the tune in mind - Easy to Remember made him almost a horn player, the tune related sounds and rhythms he produced in his solo. Sach, incidentally, did good on that tune too. What am I saying? He did good on them all!

Kansas Smitty's is an institution and this is one institution I'd be happy to be committed to - back again tomorrow night.

Lance