The Jamie Toms Quartet arrived in good time to set
up and then take five. The Black Bull audience duly arrived and at eight
o'clock on the dot we were ready to go. Eleven numbers across two sets, all of
them composed by bandleader Jamie Toms, it would be an opportunity to listen to
the principal soloists - Toms (tenor and soprano saxophones) and Graham Don
(piano) - stretching out, supported by Ian Paterson (bass) and John Bradford
(drums), from time to time our excellent rhythm section duo would also bask in
the soloist's spotlight.
All of the compositions played this evening were written by Jamie Toms and, by way of introduction, our bandleader offered an insight as to how each number came about. It became apparent much of the set list was composed by a stay-at-home Toms - battening down the hatches in the face of stormy weather or, like everyone else, stuck at home thanks to lockdown restrictions.
And so we heard Working from Home (see above), then Waltz for a Rainy Day (ditto). The titles could suggest something down beat. Anything but! The quartet sparkled, knocking out clean, incisive solos with cohesive ensemble playing to the fore. Think 'Blue Note' and you'll get an idea where Toms was/is coming from - listenable bop/post-bop in construction, executed with aplomb by four of the region's finest musicians. It wasn't all Blue Note-inspired material, far from it, Toms revealing the ECM sound of Kenny Wheeler (and others) to be an influence, the quartet closing the first set with Absent Friends.
Second set: Monkfish, yep, Monk (Thelonious) the inspiration. Excellent. First Glance featured Toms' soprano sax, Hurricane Dorian referenced the aforementioned stormy weather and, for musicians in the house, 'Dorian' would mean something. For the non-musicians present, we listened. Toms and co were flying, Graham Don taking it to the cleaners. Tremendous!
Jamie Toms and Graham Don are members of the Strictly Smokin' Big Band (catch the SSBB at Gosforth Civic Theatre on Friday 27 June) and Jamie spoke warmly about 'Gordon' (the much missed SSBB trumpeter Gordon Marshall). In tribute to Gordon, the quartet played the ballad Remembering You. A nice moment. To close out two excellent sets, Toms picked up his soprano sax once more and the quartet sent us on our way with Pip's Palace.
It had been another excellent evening at the Black Bull. Next month's Blaydon Jazz Club concert (Monday 14 April) features Zoë Gilby. No stranger to the Black Bull, Zoë often brings in her quartet. However, for a change, it'll be Zoë's quintet with the addition of tenor saxophonist Harry Keeble. It's another one to look forward to - see you there!
Set list: Working from Home; Waltz for a Rainy Day; Chido; The Day the Snow Came; Absent Friends; The Monkfish; First Glance; Tuesday Song; Hurricane Dorian; Remembering You; Pip's Palace (all compositions J. Toms). Russell
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