 |
| © Roly Veitch |
Graham Hardy (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ben Lawrence (piano); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums)
In its fortieth year, Blaydon Jazz Club is on a roll. A run of superb concerts, increasing attendances, jazz on Bridge Street, Blaydon-on-Tyne is alive and well. The Black Bull welcomed Graham Hardy's new outfit, 'Eclectic' by name, 'Eclectic' by virtue of the choice of material, the one down side to the occasion...the coughing and spluttering musicians! It's that time of year when the lurgy does its best/worst!
Graham Hardy is one of the region's finest musicians, a 'first call' trumpeter in any number of ensembles. As a bandleader, GH cuts a relaxed, if some reluctant, figure. Years of section work, doing his thing, often hidden behind the 'bones, this evening our man was out front. The Black Bull is familiar territory to Hardy, no worries on that score, what's more, his band mates were of A-list calibre! Ben Lawrence travelled over from Cumbria (our young pianist would play a blinder), bassist Andy Champion arrived from just up the road and drummer John Bradford made it in good time from Deepest Darkest County Durham.
From Clark Terry's In Orbit to Wayne Shorter's Tom Thumb to Muscat Ramble - no not Muskrat Ramble, once upon a time GH played a gig in Oman, hence Muscat Ramble - this Blaydon Jazz Club engagement reaffirmed the view that Graham Hardy's Eclectic Quartet has well and truly arrived on the Tyneside jazz scene. Russell
No comments :
Post a Comment