Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting @ Bobik's - September 1

Tom Dixon's monthly improv night at the Punch Bowl Hotel in Newcastle made its debut in August. Inspired by Charles Mingus' Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting, the event, in the first floor performance space on Jesmond Road, is designed to encourage one and all - participants and listeners - to come along and experience wholly improvised music. 

This second edition featured a solo piano set by Ben Lawrence. Later in the evening a series of ad hoc groupings would take to the stage to perform spontaneous improvisations. Pianist Ben travelled with his RD-800 keyboard from his Carlisle base to play a set of some forty minutes. 

Bookended by seventies' Chick Corea and twenty first century Robert Glasper, Ben's set roamed across the keyboard from J Dilla-esque beats to fragments of familiar GASbook numbers. Our Durham University graduate has come a long way since his days with Paul Edis' Early Bird workshop band! 

Two trio groupings - Ben playing flute alongside two guitarists, and a guitar-keyboards-drums assembly - preceded the evening's closing set. The finale, comprising one or two heavyweights, namely double bassist John Pope and drummer Ben Fitzgerald, working with our host, Tom Dixon blowing tenor, and an unnamed, off-mic flautist, produced some interesting moments.

Wednesday Night Prayer Meeting is in its embryonic stage. If you're looking to express yourself in a supportive environment, Bobik's (that's the Punch Bowl's upstairs room) could be the platform for you. First Wednesday in the month, the next one is on October 6, eight o'clock start. Listeners welcome. Russell