The room was crammed, the nearest parking spots were available just outside of Morpeth and ale was flowing freely, well not exactly freely but cheaper than it would be across the road at the Arena where most of the audience where heading lured by the magnetism of Paul Heaton of The Beautiful South fame.
The remaining ten or so who stayed were treated to a couple of sets by Trio Grand, a relatively new band on the jazz circuit although well-established on the function scene.
When I describe the set that I heard (I had to leave early to avoid the mass exodus from the Arena) as a work in progress I'm not being derogatory, I'm sure the band would agree that they're still finding their way.
Bass guitarist and frontman, a guy called Paul Carter, introduced Strasbourg/St Denis as being by a guy called Roy Hargrove and Bluesology as by a guy called Milt Jackson. Interestingly, he didn't introduce Tonight I'll be Staying Here with You as being by a guy called Bob Dylan. Perhaps he was judging his audience.
Nevertheless, he has a good voice that was heard to advantage on Paul Simon's 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover and the aforementioned piece of poetic Dylan as well as alternating 'twixt fretted and fretless basses.
On drums I sensed that Voros was 51% a rocker and 49% a jazzer both on drums and vocals. He struggled a bit with Fly me to the Moon but did the business on Bill Withers' Lovely Day.
Barbara Wilcox is the real deal. Astrud Gilberto-like vocals on Wave, One Note Samba and an emotive Angel Eyes told us she could sing and some tasty solos with big juicy chords on instrumentals such as Herbie Hancock's Driftin', Yardbird Suite, Strasbourg/St Denis and Bluesology told us she could play.
I look forward to hearing Trio Grand (not to be confused with Trio Grande) again soon. Lance
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