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| © Ken Drew |
Lewis Watson (tenor sax); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums)
On Church Street East stands a Churches Conservation Trust renovated Georgian church. It's a hidden gem on the south bank of the Wear, in Hendon, Sunderland ('Old Sunderland'). This is 1719. This evening the 'Old Black Cat Jazz Club' once again opened its doors to Wearside's jazz cats. They were there to listen to the Lewis Watson Quartet.
John Coltrane's Bessie's Blues opened the show. Who would have thought it? A blues in an East End church, a Coltrane blues at that! Tenor saxophonist Lewis Watson's big sound reverberated around the cavernous space, no mic required. A magisterial start. It would be an evening of Trane and Watson. An exception to the rule was Jimmy Van Heusen's Nancy (with the Laughing Face). Wow! This was good! All four musicians contributing; Mark Williams' flawless guitar playing, Andy Champion's imperious bass playing; John Bradford's wholly empathetic drumming.
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| © Ken Drew |
The Lewis Watson Quartet's next engagement is on Monday 19 August at the Black Bull, Blaydon. It's an eight o'clock start, arrive early to bag a seat. Russell
Set list: Bessie's Blues; Times Past; ?; Nancy (with the Laughing Face); Song for Keith; Out of Step; Earth; Sonny's Disposition; Prayer to Be.
1 comment :
As for Nancy with the Laughing Face ...... Lewis told us that Phil Silvers wrote the lyrics to this - Sgt Bilko no less! Plus, the song was originally called 'Bessie with the Laughing Face.'
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