Foundry Jazz Ensemble @ The Exchange, North Shields - Dec. 5

Jude Murphy (double bass, vocals); Bernie Ranson (piano, sax, vocals); Judah Grunstein (guitar)

The weather outside was frightful …

But inside The Exchange a Sunday afternoon crowd soon warmed up to a selection of jazz standards and other tunes not normally heard at jazz gigs (more of that later).

The venue was hosting an art exhibition and many were there to view the paintings but those who stayed on to listen to the music were in for a treat.

There were the usual staples of any cool jazz repertoire: Blue Bossa, Stella by Starlight, Beatrice and Summertime with all three musicians taking interesting and inventive solos. Bernie sometimes playing piano, sometimes saxophone. Judah Grunstein showing that he knew his way around the frets - and then some.

As well as playing bass, Jude Murphy showed off her vocal dexterity to good effect with Corcovado in Portuguese, a beautiful rendition of Night and Day and a very hot helping of Frim Fram Sauce amongst others.

Bernie Ranson sang Mack The Knife in German as well as a tune I have not heard at a jazz gig for a long time - the theme from Meet the Flintstones!

There was also Autumn Leaves, A Foggy Day and a very interesting Squeeze Me which I am told was performed as a jazz waltz.

All in all, delightful ...

Catch The Foundry Jazz Ensemble again at The Exchange on the the 12th and the 19th of December, in the bar, 3:00pm until 5:00pm and it's free! Sylvia