Giles Strong (guitar); Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn); Ian Paterson (double bass); John Bradford (drums)
A midsummer's evening on the banks of the Tyne. The Black Bull, perched high above the Tyne Valley railway (the Flying Scotsman has been known to breeze past the pub's beer garden), is home to Blaydon Jazz Club. This evening's guests - Giles, Pete, Ian and John - were no strangers to the regulars and the quartet took to the stage to play a few tunes - a mix of choice standards and accomplished original compositions.
On Green Dolphin Street opened the first of two sets. Top quality arrangements of each and every number would be the hallmark of the evening's concert. Henry Mancini's Days of Wine and Roses, Sakura (Japanese cherry blossom) featured Pete Tanton, a bop-ish Walk to Wall (or is it Wark to Wall?, two place names in Northumberland), Two Add Two (a contrafact of, yes, you've guessed it, Four), the Giles Strong Quartet exemplified the 'less is more' approach.
Ian Paterson's subtly swinging, precision bass playing was a joy to listen to (Giles and Pete taking their cues from 'Dodge' Paterson's Swiss watch timekeeping) and then there was John Bradford. For the most part, John worked with brushes throughout the evening, great playing! Blues Clues supplied the blues element, vying for 'tune of the night'. Great playing from the quartet. June Joy (another G. Strong composition), Alone Together (Dodge's sonorous bowed intro), I'll Remember April, we were nearing the end of another excellent session here at the Black Bull. Bandleader Giles asked if we wanted one more. Yes, came the unanimous reply. The Giles Strong Quartet sent us on our way (to the railway station) with Miljarder Stjärnor.
Blaydon Jazz Club's July concert (Monday 21) presents Tyneside's New Century Syncopated Seven featuring the brilliant 'classic jazz' era (1920s/30s) percussionist Nick Ward. It's an eight o'clock start, a tenner at the door. See you there! Russell
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