Northumberland Jazz Festival: Clark Tracey Quintet @ Queen's Hall, Hexham - May 26

Konrad Wiszniewski (tenor sax); Colin Steele (trumpet); Bruce Boardman (piano); Tom Marsh (double bass); Clark Tracey (drums)

Two days of concerts drew to a close on Sunday evening with a top-of-the-bill appearance by the Clark Tracey Quintet. A recent Newcastle Jazz Co-op engagement featured none of the advertised line-up. Less than one month later, save for trumpeter Colin Steele, it was all change for this Queen's Hall concert. Fellow Scot, tenor saxophonist Konrad Wiszniewski, made the trip south with Steele. Pianist Bruce Boardman hadn't been seen in the region for a couple of years or so, and bassist Tom Marsh was making his debut with the Clark Tracey Quintet. All change...

A set list not dissimilar to that at the Globe, Newcastle, the CT5 kicked off with Stan Tracey's Rainbow at the Five Miles Road. Scribbled notes read: Dynamic solos all round. Konrad Wiszniewski's ballad feature In a Sentimental Mood set a high bar. a Bitta Bittadose matched it, as did S. Tracey's Funky Day in Tiger Bay. The frontline horns were in terrific form, indeed the whole band hit the heights. Bruce Boardman knows the material inside out and Thelonious Monk's Blue Monk held few fears, Tracey describing the pianist as a 'Monk expert'. 

Fresh out of Birmingham Conservatoire, bassist Tom Marsh must have been in dreamland landing a gig such as this. Let's just say he's going to be around for years to come. And to close, Sonny Rollins' joyful St Thomas. Of late, the Clark Tracey Quintet is anything but a settled line-up. All change... Russell