Lewis Watson (tenor sax); Mark Williams (guitar); Mick Shoulder (double bass); John Bradford (drums)
A second appearance of the day by Lewis Watson. Earlier, in reviewing tenor saxophonist Watson's lunchtime concert in Newcastle, BSH Editor-in-Chief LL opted to mix sporting metaphors - citing heavyweight boxing champ Sonny Liston and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo - to describe/review the rarely-spotted Watson's performance. Forget Ronaldo, this was George Best. The Manchester United legend retired at the age of 26 (tennis legend Bjorn Borg did the same thing). We hadn't seen or heard from Lewis Watson for quite some time (pre-pandemic) and this double-header of a day marked something of a comeback.
As at the Lit & Phil in Newcastle, here at the Traveller's Rest in Cockerton, Darlington, Watson opened with Trane's Liberia. In good fettle and in great form, we should treasure the return of this most majestic of tenor saxophonists. Watson's team mates - Mark Williams, Mick Shoulder and John Bradford - were more than up to the job as Best, sorry, Watson, weaved, dream-like, through the changes. Jerry Bergonzi's Optimum Propensity challenged the quartet here at Opus 4 Jazz Club, all four musicians played a blinder. El Gaucho, a magical Beatrice (Watson has had Sam Rivers' tune in his pad for years and years), then a departure from the Lit & Phil set list with a take on Steve Swallow's Eiderdown.
Understandably, Lewis Watson the tenor player likes his tenor players. Earlier, Sam Rivers, now, into the second set of the evening, Joe Henderson and Recorda Me. Appreciative of his team mates (and perhaps looking for a breather), Watson momentarily left the stage to listen to the trio play I Should Care (Mark Williams has been known to say of the Axel Stordahl/Paul Weston composition: Great tune!). The trio has been known to gig as a working unit. Excellent.
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