Sunday Night @ the Globe: Andrea Vicari Trio - May 7

(© Ken Drew)

Andrea Vicari (piano/keys); Andy Champion (bass/bass guitar); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax)

Last year this very same trio played a sold out gig just down the road at the Lit and Phil  so the portents were that they would draw a similar sized audience to the Globe. Alas, it was not to be.

So what went wrong?

Musically it couldn't be faulted. However, there were probably several contributing factors. The bank holiday weekend, Newcastle playing at home (which is always a deterrent for non football fans) and the decision by the Central Bar just across the Tyne Bridge to move its Monday night session to a Sunday afternoon.

Nevertheless, those of us who made the effort were amply rewarded with some of the best jazz piano heard at the venue since well, er, well since they last played an Oscar Peterson record.

Both women were at the top of their game and Champion whether on double bass or bass guitar does pretty good for a man.

The material was mainly original although a lush version of Body and Soul with some beautiful arco bass from Champion was one of the many standout numbers. Vicari's Get Busy was aptly named. It had lots of notes with Abbie contributing some New Orleans' style parade drumming.

Occasionally, Andrea would shuffle from the house Yamaha upright to her Nord keyboard and the scenario would become more contemporary. On Counting Moments, a brooding, melancholic piece, she played some esoteric sounds that contrasted nicely with her more straight ahead approach when at the electronic upright.

(© Ken Drew)

And, as if all this on its own wasn't enough, we had the added bonus of tenor saxophone contender Harry Keeble sitting-in for Rhythm-A-Ning, Footprints and Straight no Chaser.

During the afternoon Andrea had hosted a piano workshop which, hopefully will have helped spawn a few more jazz pianists aspiring to reach Ms Vicari's heights.

Next Sunday has JNE presenting a concert by Eternal Triangle featuring the legendary free form pioneer Trevor Watts with a support set by Andy Champion on solo bass. Again they will be fighting on two fronts with David  Gray's Flextet at the Central Bar and 20 miles west it's the Hexham Jazz Festival. Hopefully (jazz folk always live in hope) the three events will appeal to different sectors of the community. Lance

Set list included: Golden Gate; Get Busy; Counting Minutes; Body and Soul; Rhythm-A-Ning; Footprints; The Bells of Newchurch; Straight no Chaser