Sunday Night @ the Globe: Sam Braysher Trio - Nov. 13

(© Ken Drew)

Sam Braysher (alto sax); Andrew Robb (bass); Alyn Cosker (drums).

Music, and jazz in particular, is a funny old thing. You go to a gig and, afterwards, can't wait to buy the album. Conversely, you buy the album and look forward to hearing the band live. In either scenario the results aren't always what you expect.

Last night was just such an occasion. In March last year I'd waxed eloquently over Sam's album Dance Little Lady, Dance Little Man - the album from which much of the evening's programme was drawn - and enjoyed it immensely. However, there's a difference between listening to something in the comfort of a centrally heated bedroom (those were the days) with the volume and the thermostats turned up and shivering your timbers down some mean streets in a north eastern winter only to find the band were starting late as they were dining in a Persian restaurant - as if there weren't any caffs in Newcastle.

(© Ken Drew)

Hoagy's Heart and Soul, a tune that anyone whose fingers have been within touching distance of a piano knows that the melody can be picked out using only the black notes, had an attractive quirkiness on the album that didn't quite come across live. Nevertheless, once I accepted that this wasn't going to be a put the boot in and cause the audience to holler "uncle" type of gig it became quite enjoyable.

A good selection of lesser known and less hackneyed standards did nothing to numb the senses although the general consensus of opinion seemed to be that Sam's original Pintxos was the standout number of the first set.

Over the past few days I've heard a veritable plethora of saxophone players including the Sax Summit livestream from the 606 and the WDR Big Band album Birth of a Bird  so there were plenty of grounds for comparision and Braysher, who was himself part of last year's Sax Summit, because of his cooler approach didn't lose out.

On drums Cosker was, by his standards, relatively restrained using,  to good effect, sticks, brushes, hands and timp sticks as the occasion demanded. He was also let off the leash on Pintxos and One Note Samba. Andrew Robb, that doyen of Scottish bass players, slotted in perfectly - when does he not?

All in all, a pleasant if not earth shattering gig. Unfortunately, their trip to Iran put my travel schedule awry which meant I had to depart early although not before I'd heard a beautiful version of Some Other Spring. Lance 

Heart and Soul; The Sweetest Sounds; Little White Lies; This is New; Pintxos; This Nearly Was Mine; Walking the Dog; For Regulars Only; Lady Luck; One Note Samba; Some Other Spring...