 |
| © Roly Veitch |
James Birkett (guitar); Bradley Johnston (guitar)
Two of Blaydon Jazz Club's many friends took centre stage this evening - guitarists James Birkett and Bradley Johnston. The former a friend of several decades, the latter, of a younger generation, a friend of some fifteen years or so. The former is a regular performer here on Bridge Street, the latter a less frequent visitor due to his current home being across the Irish Sea, Dublin or thereabouts.
It was heartening to see the room fill up, then fill up some more before the eight o'clock start. A key element of the evening would be James and Bradley choosing to play two sets of tunes they rarely, if ever, play together. James did the talking, James and Bradley did the playing.
Two of the finest guitarists around opened with Unit 8 (a tip-of-the-hat to Wes Montgomery). One tune after another, this was guitar playing of the highest order. Oliver Nelson's Stolen Moments, Johnny Mandel's Emily, Lulu Reinhardt's Lulu Swing, as promised, we were listening to new material (new to our duo) here at the Black Bull.
Pub gigs can be problematic - the bar doing business, voices from the adjoining bar etc - but not so this evening. Two virtuoso guitarists, seated, playing to a 'pin-drop' listening audience, James and Bradley couldn't have asked for anything more. The only noise to be heard was when applause, frequent applause, rang out in appreciation of their efforts.
James introduced the Great Depression-era song Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?, offering the thought that it could be a song for our times. Indeed. Ain't Misbehavin', Caravan, and that was it. Except for prolonged applause and an encore - Bye, Bye, Blackbird. It had been a rather special evening - guitarists on stage and off (tutors and students), renewed acquaintances, convivial company. To quote George and Ira Gershwin: Who could ask for anything more? Russell
No comments :
Post a Comment