Nel Begley Trio @ Hexham Community Centre - August 29

Nel Begley (vocals); Paul Edis (keyboards); Luke Fowler (double bass) + Ferg Kilsby (trumpet) 

A third and final concert in the north east of England for the Nel Begley Trio. Hexham Community Centre hosted this Core Music promotion, thought to be the first ever jazz event at the Gilesgate resource centre. Following appearances at Newcastle Arts Centre and a sold out Gala Theatre, Durham, vocalist, composer and arranger Begley would, later in the evening, invite an up-and-coming brass player to join her trio.

Begley, pianist Paul Edis and bassist Luke Fowler opened their final 'up north' performance with Leonard Bernstein's Lucky to be Me. The sound balance just about right, Begley, flanked by Edis to her right and Fowler to her left, projected to the back of the compact hall. Expressive, heart-felt lyrics were a hallmark of Begley's run of three concerts. Them There Eyes, the often heard (too often?) Nature Boy, then it was time for Begley to introduce her special guest. Soon to resume his studies in London, trumpeter Kilsby blew at length on the old warhorse Cherokee. Holding his own alongside established musicians, young Ferg is at the forefront of the coming generation. To close out the first set, Ferg rejoined Nel and co for a rollicking Take the 'A' Train.

Second set: Ostensibly an odd choice, Joni Mitchell's Woodstock worked well. The penny dropped with your correspondent, the Joni Mitchell 'sound' was clearly an influential element of Nel's vocal style. Ferg was on this one, excelling into the bargain. 

Nel, Paul and Luke were at the top of their collective game on Social Call, Nel remarking: every jazz singer is singing this one. Good! Gigi Gryce's composition (lyrics added later by Jon Hendricks) is one of the tunes. The very personal subject matter of Small Flame (the eponymous track on Nel Begley's debut album) was given its third outing of the tour. Nel's lyrics drew in the listener, the audience hanging on every word. The Sweetest Sounds (Richard Rodgers) then, to finish, with Ferg back on the stand, Harold Arlen's classic Come Rain or Come Shine. Russell        

Set list: Lucky to be Me; Them There Eyes; Nature Boy; Cherokee; Trem das Onze; A House is Not a Home; Take the 'A' Train; Woodstock; Social Call; Small Flame; ?; The Sweetest Sounds; Come Rain or Come Shine.