The Stuart Fowler Quintet play Art Blakey's Moanin' + Jam Session @ Central Bar, Gateshead - Dec. 13

Stuart Fowler (trumpet); Jamie Toms (tenor sax); Alan Law (piano); Mick Shoulder (bass); John Bradford (drums) + Damian Cook (alto sax); )Paul Booth (tenor sax); Michael Lamb (trumpet); Joe Steels (guitar).

It all began quite sedately, relatively speaking that is, as if a recreation of an Art Blakey Blue Note album could ever be described as being sedate!

The house quintet paid due reverence to the legendary recording - they did it proud. All five were on their metal, no doubt anticipating what was to follow.

Last month the second set jam had few takers - there were no such problems tonight! No sir! 

The quintet set up their stall with a spirited All of Me before Joe Steels stepped up to the plate with a tasty take on Cole Porter's Everything I Love. Joe stayed aboard and no less a player than Paul Booth came up to join the party. The tenor player absolutely blitzed You Stepped Out of a Dream.

And the action didn't stop there!

Damian Cook is no stranger to BSH - when he's in the pit at the Theatre Royal he invariably shows up at jam sessions and tonight was just such an occasion. However, there's more to Damian than that of being a blistering alto saxist. Chatting afterwards I learned that he was staying with Darren Irwin - MD for Jason Isaacs' gig at Hoochie on Sunday - and that he did in fact write a couple of charts for that gig.

They blew Alone Together with Michael Lamb also in sizzling form. The final Donna Lee had the full cast playing as if there was no tomorrow. Jamie Toms matching his fellow saxmen blow for blow, Alan Law proving his value at the keys both as a soloist and provider of sympathetic backing whilst Shoulder and Bradford kept the wheels turning. In the earlier Blakey set Bradford emulated the great man to perfection on the Drum Thunder Suite whilst Shoulder not only played bass but that very afternoon had transcribed the parts for the suite.

On the bus going home it occured to me that I'd compiled my Gigs of the Year list too soon! Lance (Photos by Russell)