4B @ The Exchange North Shields - Jan. 25

(Archive photo)

Bernie Ranson (tenor sax, vocals); Steve Chambers (keys); Harry Hussaini (electric bass); Jamie ? (guitar).

4B played their regular Wednesday night gig at The Exchange last night with a new face on keyboards. Steve Chambers stood in for the night and was happy to be back playing in his home town of North Shields after many years out of the area. He may have been new to The Exchange but straight away he set out his stall and had the Wednesday night crowd applauding his first solo as the band performed My One and Only Love. Thereafter followed an evening that passed by far too quickly.

(© Sylvia)

Highlights to mention include Bernie’s tender vocals on I Thought About You; one of the best renditions of Black Coffee that I’ve heard recently; Jamie’s solo on Footprints and Steve, well too many highlights to mention!  Harry, in the engine room alone without a drummer tonight, did what he always does and provided a solid foundation especially on Wayne Shorter’s Footprints.

The Exchange advertises Wednesday evenings  as “ballads, bossas, blues and a bit of bebop and that’s what was delivered to the delight of regulars and as well as some new faces finding The Exchange for the first time.

Set list included: My One and Only Love; Corcovado; On the Sunny Side of the Street; Black Coffee; Footprints; Beatrice; Mack the Knife; Theme From Black Orpheus; I’m Old Fashioned; Girl of my Dreams; I Thought About You; Birks' Works.

As an added attraction artwork exhibited by the very talented students from the Diploma course at the local 6th form college is on view in the bar until 1st.February. Sylvia