Lewis Watson (tenor sax); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (double bass); John Bradford (drums)
Time to dig out that 'Gig of the Year' list. Not yet six months into the year, this afternoon's Lewis Watson Quartet performance at Queen's Hall, Hexham is a live contender. Since his return to gigging on something like a regular basis, tenor saxophonist Lewis Watson has reasserted his position as the tenor player on the scene.
Opening with a/the brief Intro, Watson tore into Earth. Composed by Coltrane? Joe Henderson? AN Other heavyweight tenor saxophonist? No, the name of the composer...L. Watson. Big sound, secure technique, we were listening to tenor saxophone playing of the highest order. Alongside Watson, guitar maestro Mark Williams and bass supremo Andy Champion, both soloing to great effect, drummer John Bradford, as always, right on the money.
John Coltrane? Yes, The Promise, Watson's huge sound, totally commanding. If Lewis Watson dropped by one of the Big Apple's many top flight jam sessions and called something, anything, by Coltrane, New York's finest would be left trailing in his wake. Wow! Not that this Sunday Jazz at Queen's Hall concert was a one man band, far from it. Williams and Champion are a match for the best of them, and John Bradford's keen awareness (a listening musician) of what was going down around him marks him out as a top class drummer (exemplary brush work).
Guitarist Williams laid down a slow, slow, low down blues intro to Watson's The Necessary Blues. A great number, with all four musicians killing it. Sonny's Disposition upped the tempo before the Lewis Watson Quartet sent us on our way with the calming, contemplative Pray to Be. Gig of the Year? It's right up there. Russell
Set list: Intro; Earth; The Road Ahead; Skylark; Times Past; Song for Keith; The Promise; The Necessary Blues; Sonny's Disposition; Prayer to Be.
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