Daniel John Martin @ Central Bar, Gateshead - April 13

Daniel John Martin (violin, vocals); Mick Shoulder (guitar); Dave Smith (rhythm guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass)

The final date of Daniel John Martin's UK tour, then tomorrow, Monday, it's home to Paris. DJM and Mick Shoulder have been clocking up the miles, gigging from the south coast of England to Edinburgh, now Gateshead, the last port of call. Accompanying Monsieur Martin this afternoon, Messrs. M. Shoulder, Dave Smith and Paul 'Cuddles' Grainger. 

Gateshead's Central Bar welcomed the quartet, all very casual, time for a beer before getting to work. At about a quarter past two, DJM and the boys opened with Coquette. Magnificent, DJM  fleetingly quoting this tune and that, including My Melancholy Baby. A first DJM vocal, After You've Gone, 'Cuddles' Grainger chipping in with an ace solo. Another vocal, All of Me, allied to the brilliance of DJM's violin playing, this was top class stuff. A heart-tugging Embraceable You, followed by a set-closing Dinette, this was Paris-sur-le-Tyne.

Glasses recharged, J'attendrai (a request) resumed matters. Some in the audience were hearing DJM for the first time, they couldn't quite believe how good this guy is. Anniversary Song encouraged a couple to take to the floor, Monsieur Martin nodding his approval. Django's Castle - scribbled notes read: MS [Mick Shoulder] , DJM wow! This was the business! 

The rhythm boys - Dave Smith (guitar) and the redoubtable Paul Grainger (double bass) - played a blinder, whatever was required they delivered it in spades. Bravo! Daniel John Martin and Swing Manouche signed off with Minor Swing. It had been a cracking afternoon. Russell