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| © Patti |
Faced with a circa six hours train journey from Exeter to Newcastle for a lunchtime gig at Newcastle's 200-year-old (to the very day) Literary & Philosophical Society many of the audience, including myself, wondered if Greg Abate would: a) arrive on time, b) just go through the motions or c) deliver the bebop blast we have grown to expect from him on his many previous visits to Newcastle?
The opening On Green Dolphin Street quickly dismissed our fears. He soared like an eagle who had just dined on fried yardbird. His fingers dexterously manipulating the keywork of Selmer's vintage flagship - the Mark VI alto saxophone - and the ideas flowed. It seemed effortless but how many hours did he spend in the woodshed to achieve such greatness - it wasn't thrust upon him?
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| © Patti |
That breath was then channelled to flute for more 'Bird' in the form of My Little Suede Shoes - love that tune as I do the next one, Duke's In a Sentimental Mood. Never has a tune been so appropriately titled.
We were heading into the home straight - or so we thought! A couple of Abate originals: On the Road, a fast bossa that did what it said on the tin and Kerry's Song, a love ballad to his wife.
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| © Patti |
That was it and people began to leave - mad impetuous fools! The man from Woonsocket had one more trick up his sleeve. A play-off number that sounded more like Blue Monk than The Theme. Who cared? We were just too pleased for him to keep blowing and, if he hadn't had a gig at Darlo tonight or the civic dignitaries weren't having an anniversary rave later, he'd have still been blowing. Great gig! Lance
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