The James Birkett Trio @ Blaydon Jazz Club - July 17

(© Roly Veitch)

James Birkett (guitar); Jeremy McMurray (keyboards); Andy Champion (double bass)

The Black Bull on Bridge Street is under new management. A lick of paint, new flooring, hanging baskets, yes, things they are a-changing. One thing that hasn't changed is Blaydon Jazz Club's presentation of top quality jazz. For nigh on four decades musicians from near and far have made their way to the welcoming hostelry overlooking the Tyne. This evening three musicians - one from Tyneside, one from Northumberland and one from the Tees Delta - would entertain a full house.

Master guitarist James Birkett has been a friend to Blaydon Jazz Club for the best part of forty years, brilliant bassist Andy Champion's association with jazz here at the Black Bull must be near enough twenty years and counting, likewise pianist Jeremy McMurray. They've played together often enough, yet this evening's concert marked the formal debut of the 'James Birkett Trio'. Virtuoso musicians that they are, our trio simply turned up, scribbled down a set list and played as if they're a regular working unit. Effortless (or so it appeared to the mere mortals in the room), joyful, empathetic, 'listening' musicians, a 'listening' audience too! 

In his early days on the Tyneside jazz scene, James Birkett first met and then worked with the late Bill Smith. Our guitar maestro recalled the tenor saxophonist introduced him to Benny Carter's Only Trust Your Heart, adding: Bill is my all-time favourite tenor player. How about that for a tribute! The trio played Carter's tune. Fabulous. In a Mellotone, Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? with Dr Birkett recounting his visit to the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, NYC, and to close a magical first set, 'a blues' with three top class musicians showing how it's done.

Looking around the crowded room during the interval, it was wonderful to see so many happy faces, folk enjoying a drink and a natter. Earlier, in the bar, Dean, the Black Bull's new publican, happened to mention that he's a bass player. Your correspondent suggested he might like to listen to Andy Champion. First set and second set, he did just that. You could say he was more than a little impressed!

(© Roly Veitch)

Sonny Rollins' Oleo opened the second set, something of a favourite of this evening's bandleader. Jobim's Once I Loved (topically Astrud Gilberto) followed (pianist Jeremy McMurray quoting Girl From Ipanema), what a great mix of tunes! My One and Only Love, Have You Met Miss Jones? featuring an amazingly inventive James Birkett solo, Embraceable You (your correspondent thinking of the late Margaret Barnes, a long-time supporter of Blaydon Jazz Club, how she would have loved this session). It had been a superb evening of jazz performed by three of the very best musicians around. Russell