Jude Murphy, Alan Law & Friends @ Prohibition Bar - Sept. 21

Jude Murphy (double bass, vocals); Alan Law (piano); Alexia Gardner (vocals); Abbie Finn (drums) + Ray Burns (harmonica) 

Prohibition Bar's initial publicity promised an evening of jazz featuring Jude Murphy and Alan Law. Along the way, Alexia Gardner was invited to join our duo, likewise Abbie Finn. Advertised as an eight o'clock start, arriving at seven, the place was heaving. The word was out, Alexia Gardner was well worth hearing. 

Two high stools at the door were the best available. Sometime later, a couple sitting to the side of the bijou stage, upped and left. A mad scramble ensued...seats secured, seats with a view, it was time for a second bottle of Double Maxim. Ms Gardner is well-travelled, having lived in various parts of the world - the Caribbean, Switzerland, NYC and now, cosmopolitan Morpeth! Opening without fanfare, all eyes were on Alexia Gardner, Cheek to Cheek putting down a marker. Impressive. Autumn Leaves, I Got Rhythm, assured, energetic, rhythmic, the jazz telegraph was right, Alexia is the one you've got to hear.

Across the course of two sets, Ms Gardner sang any number of songs, from jazz standards to Ben E. King to Bob Marley. This was a Saturday night on Pink Lane, free admission, it's not uncommon for the casual drinker to be noisily oblivious to what's going down at the far end of the room. Not this evening, a pin-drop crowd hung on to every word. Alan Law, near enough Prohibition Bar's house pianist (just like Keith Crombie's Jazz Caff days), did what we knew he would do, provide the ideal accompaniment to Alexia. Jude Murphy restricted herself to bass-playing duties (flute, alto sax, vocals etc would be for another time), and, part-hidden on the corner stage, drummer Abbie Finn. Playing as well as ever with a hairline fracture to an index finger without missing a beat tells you all you need to know. Ten out of ten.*

Let There Be Love, Moon River, The Lady is a Tramp, Route 66, God Bless the Child (with Ray Burns' harmonica accompaniment), Alexia set about covering all bases, that's for sure. Ben E. King? Yep. Stand By Me with wonderful audience participation (honestly!) and the evening's highlight of highlights, No Woman No Cry. Huge applause, it had been quite an evening. Thoughts turned to when we will next hear Alexia Gardner sing. The odds are, it won't be very long. Details as and when.   

* Abbie, get that finger sorted, your hands are the tools of your trade! Russell