An Evening with Porritt & Barrett @ Cullercoats Watch House - Sept. 23

Andrew Porritt (double bass); Keith Barrett (guitar) 

This fundraising gig attracted a good number of Cullercoats' folk and some from further afield. Andrew Porritt and Keith Barrett can be seen and heard on the local jazz scene, often 'down the coast', occasionally elsewhere. Billed An evening with Porritt & Barrett: Let Music Engulf Your Senses, the recent pairing of bassist Porritt and guitarist Barrett as a duo set about entertaining the jazz fan and, perhaps, the non-jazz fan. 

The Watch House, now in the care of trustees whose declared aim is to raise significant sums to secure the future of the seafront building, received a shot in the arm with a goodly sum of money deposited in the collection box. Opening with All of Me, Porritt and Barrett did their thing - relaxed, enjoying one another's company, and, importantly, the company of a supportive audience. Across two sets, the tunes were very much of the GASbook variety. East of the Sun (and West of the Moon), Blue Bossa to Blue Monk, an appropriate Autumn Leaves, Beautiful Love, no surprises but all the better for it.

Advertised as a 'BYOB' event, on the evening it transpired there was more than a bottle or two of vino at the door for those wishing to partake. A bumper raffle paid dividends - from a personal perspective your correspondent took home a box of chocolates, collectively, proceeds of the raffle and generous donations added to the Watch House redevelopment fund. 

Messrs Porritt and Barrett didn't (don't?) sing, our instrumental duo holding the attention of all present with a straight forward programme of accessible jazz. Second set highlights included Horace Silver's Song for My Father, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, Lullaby of Birdland (Andrew Porritt soloing to good effect), Stella by Starlight and a set-closing Take the A Train. The audience wanted more. Keith Barrett obliged, encouraging the audience to sing along. And sing along we did - Bye Bye Blackbird. 

There is a regular schedule of events at the Watch House, check out the venue's website: www.cullercoatswatchhouse.com. Russell