Fergus McCreadie @ Gateshead's Glasshouse - July 26

The BBC Proms have been all over Tyne and Wear. The Fire Station, Sunderland, Thursday evening for Soweto Kinch's 'Round Midnight presentation featuring Theo Croker, Joe Webb  and Rivkala, to a weekend of events at Gateshead's Glasshouse. This Saturday afternoon, the BBC's Introducing Stage presented a multi-bill culminating with the award-winning Fergus McCreadie playing a solo piano set. 

The concourse overlooking the Tyne works as an informal, inclusive space. However, the cavernous, curved roof doesn't do anyone any favours: announcements can be muffled, at best, the musicians' best efforts often disappearing into the rafters. And so to Fergus McCreadie...

Accomplished, it goes without saying, McCreadie's 'bag' embracing Scottish folk elements and contemporary jazz developments has won him many admirers, as a soloist or with his regular trio. Across an allotted time slot of three quarters of an hour, McCreadie's dream-like, ethereal improvisations entranced an attentive audience - seated in the concourse cafe, some standing to either side, some opting for a lofty perch outside Halls One and Two and the Northern Rock Foundation Hall. 

McCreadie's announcements were largely inaudible. Did it matter? Not really, the music spoke for itself. Of four pieces, the third hit the bull's eye - ten minutes and more of superlative bebop piano playing. Charlie Parker? Yes, probably, the title eluding your correspondent. A tip-of-the-tongue moment. This one piece made the excursion to Gateshead worthwhile, more than worthwhile. Russell