The Edison Herbert Trio @ The Vault, Darlington - April 22

Edison Herbert (guitar); Sam Jackson (double bass); ? (drums)

The Vault on East Row in Darlington's Covered Market continues to present early Saturday evening gigs to a diverse crowd of Darlington's denizens on a night out and a few discerning listeners cocking an ear in attempt to hear the on-stage musicians. Whenever BSH has been in attendance the place has never been less than packed - two or three deep at the bar, almost all seats occupied, some/many standing. 

This evening, up from, Leeds, guitarist Edison Herbert played two sets of standards supported by an excellent bass and drums pairing. Opening with All Blues, Herbert impressed with his relaxed Wes Montgomery/George Benson influenced chordal approach. A bossa, a calypso, a waltz, the trio's efforts went largely unheard by the punters until a selfie-taking, cocktail-drinking table recognised a tune...Fly Me to the Moon. Arms waving in the air, it was near enough sing-along-a-Frank. A ripple of applause, that's enough of that, back to the selfies...

Summertime, Sunny, Girl from Ipanema (one or two Darlington denizens shimmied by on the way to/from the loo), Herbert and co played for themselves, the listening few, and, when the occasion demanded, the shimmiers of the 'Do you take requests?' variety. St Thomas a la George Benson, some Monk, from time to time Herbert happy to place bassist Sam Jackson in the spotlight, all things considered/endured, it was a canny gig. Russell