Lewis Watson Quartet @ Blaydon Jazz Club - May 19

© Russell

Lewis Watson (tenor sax); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums)

The prolonged dry spell continued with not so much as a hint of rain. The Tyne at Blaydon-on-Tyne looked a picture from the Black Bull's beer garden overlooking the Tyne Valley rail line. The recent return to the fold of Dean, mine host here on Bridge Street, augurs well for the future of Blaydon Jazz Club. A keen supporter of the pub's jazz night, Dean is a 'hands-on', yet unobtrusive landlord, and, on sighting Old Peculier on one of the hand-pulls, your correspondent knew this evening's jazz session couldn't be anything other than a resounding success!

© Roly Veitch

The Lewis Watson Quartet was making a welcome return to the Black Bull. As 'modern jazz' quartets go, tenor saxophonist Watson's stellar quartet is up there with the best of them. Earth (comp. L. Watson) opened the first set; all four musicians focused, the intensity of their performance palpable. The Road Ahead, a recent Watson composition, maintained the intensity, seamlessly moving into Skylark. If that had been it, the audience would have got its money's worth. Simply magnificent. There was time for one more number before the break, Watson's Times Past. It had been quite some first set! Time for a second pint of Old Peculier.

Song for Keith (for the late Keith Morris) is rarely, if ever, omitted from Lewis Watson's set list. One sensed Watson was in the mood. The Promise featured three superb solos from Watson, guitarist Mark Williams and bassist Andy Champion. The Necessary Blues (Watson saying the blues are essential) featured Williams' fabulous intro followed by truly majestic tenor saxophone playing by the man himself, L. Watson. Wow! Sonny's Disposition into Prayer to Be (drummer John Bradford and Andy Champion featured), this was modern jazz of the highest order. 

Blaydon Jazz Club's June concert (Monday 16) presents the Giles Strong Quartet. Russell