The Alice Grace Trio @ St George's Church, Jesmond, Newcastle - Oct. 28

Alice Grace (vocals); Ben Helm (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass)

Saturday Sessions is a new series of concerts staged at St George's Church, Jesmond in Newcastle. The one jazz event of the season featured a vocalist of some renown, honorary Geordie Alice Grace. Accompanied at short notice by guitarist Ben Helm (Pawel Jedrzejewski was indisposed) and the redoubtable bassist Paul Grainger, the trio opened with something seasonal...Autumn Leaves. 

The sound in the cavernous space of St George's benefitted from a sound engineer sitting unobtrusively in the front row. During the interval one of Alice's many fans remarked just how good our vocalist sounded. Agreed. First set highlights included Chega de Saudade (No More Blues) and Blame it on My Youth. Messrs Helm and Grainger supplying the foundation, doing just enough, no more. Second set, more goodies, including Devil May Care, Dindi (PG bass solo), Secret Love and, to close, by popular vote, Victor Young's Weaver of Dreams. Russell  

    

Set list included: Autumn Leaves; Chega de Saudade; I Can't Give You Anything but Love, Baby; Blame it on My Youth; Days of Wine and Roses; Long Road; I Wish I Knew How it Felt to Be Free; Devil May Care; Dindi; Secret Love; Travelling Light; Here, There and Everywhere; Weaver of Dreams.