The Giles Strong Quartet @ The Old Black Cat Jazz Club, Sunderland - Feb. 16

Giles Strong (guitar); Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ian Paterson (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

Seventeen Nineteen is at the heart of 'Old Sunderland'. Standing on the south bank of the Wear in Hendon, the recently renovated listed building is home to a wide range of events and this evening saw the launch of the Old Black Cat Jazz Club. The first in a series of monthly concerts featured the Giles Strong Quartet. 

Here at Seventeen Nineteen it was heartening to see a good turn out for this inaugural jazz event. The former Georgian church is an impressive space and the 'chamber jazz' of the Giles Strong Quartet made best use of the acoustics. A virtuoso guitarist, Giles Strong is a firm favourite on the regional jazz scene and beyond. Joining Giles were trumpeter Pete Tanton, bassist Ian Paterson and drummer John Bradford, three of the most empathetic musicians one could wish to hear. 

Billie's Blues (or is it Billy's Blues?) opened the first set followed by Mubo, two of Giles' original compositions, the musicianship simply immaculate. What would the Sunderland audience make of it? One or two were familiar 'jazz' faces, the others, perhaps they were new to it all. Judging by the frequent applause they liked what they were hearing! Our good-humoured bandleader introduced his bandmates thus: 'the extraordinary' Pete Tanton, 'the beautiful' Ian Paterson (the jury's out!), and 'the exquisite' John Bradford. Laughter all round!

John Bradford's filigree brushes and light use of sticks on Days of Wine and Roses were an object lesson in sensitivity and taste, John Lewis' Django and Giles' contrafact of There'll  Never be Another You, You'll be There, I'll be Here showcased the quartet's collective sensibilities to the wide-ranging material, and the groove of Brother T featuring Ian Paterson's subtle funk lines ensured this first jazz gig at Seventeen Nineteen in 'Old Sunderland' was nothing other than a great success. 

Next month's Old Black Cat Jazz Club session on Friday 15 March presents Mick Shoulder's hugely popular Swing Manouche. Book in advance at: www.eventbrite.co.uk. Russell