The Mark Toomey Quartet @ Dorman's Jazz Club Middlesbrough - May 2

Mark Toomey (alto sax); Jeremy McMurray (piano); Alan Rudd (double bass); Paul Smith (drums).

A night of jazz standards and original compositions. All delivered with the passion and excitement that is always guaranteed with this group which isn't surprising comprising as it does some of the best jazz musicians in the Teesside area. It also gave Mark  the the opportunity to demonstrate his skills as a talented composer with a number of his own compositions.

Sonny Rollins' version of Tenor Madness set the style for the night with excellent solos all round. Jimmy Van Heusen's It Could Happen to You was nicely played before Jump High, an up tempo Parker influenced composition of Mark's, again  included sax, piano and bass solos before exchanging fours with Paul to finish.

Mark's Only Say it When it's True, changed the mood with beautiful ballad playing by the composer and his colleagues.

Upping the tempo once again and showing how well they all played together Mambo Inn was set up with a wonderful Latin rhythm by Paul and then exciting improvised sax, piano and bass solos before Paul really showed his drumming technique with a terrific solo.

A clear demonstration as to how jazz musicians can transform a song was shown by playing Be My Love a song made famous by Mario Lanza. The first set was then brought to a close with another of Mark's compositions the Latin based One More Try nicely played by all.

The second and final set began with Mark's Do You Have the Time?, a swinging blues with a fine alto intro, excellent piano work from Jeremy and sound basswork from Alan.

Two well known standards followed, Bob Haggard's Whats New? and the up tempo Cole Porter favourite What is This Thing Called Love?, both showing just how tight this band's ensemble playing is.

Mark's composition, A Song For Laura, dedicated to his daughter, was played with great sensitivity and feeling. Another of his compositions, a Latin style tune aptly named Those Rainy Summer Days, gave plenty of scope for the musicians to solo and to play so well together.

The evening drew to a close with the jazz standard East of the Sun (and West of the Moon).

It was a pleasure to listen to four truly professional jazz musicians, thoroughly enjoyed by the audience and in receipt of a nice compliment from Mark saying how they always enjoyed playing at Dorman's. Nice also to see in the audience jazz musicians Mark Hawkins, Dave Fisher and the doyen of the Teesside music scene dating back to the early '60s, Ottie McLaughlin.

Thanks as usual go to the staff of Dorman's Club for their help and support with the jazz night. Ron Hampton