Lorne Lofsky-Nigel Price Quartet @ The Blue Lamp, Aberdeen - Nov. 13

Lorne Lofsky (guitar); Nigel Price (guitar); Jeremy Brown (double bass); Joel Barford (drums)

A first visit to Aberdeen. It's a long way north of Newcastle - the best part of 250 miles. Our destination but a few minutes' walk from Aberdeen Railway Station. Up on Gallowgate a blue lamp glowed in the distance...

Reaching our destination, above the door a weather-worn advertising board for McEwans' beers augured well. A soundcheck - more rock than jazz  - was underway in an upstairs room. Ascending the stairs, opening the door, the band stopped playing. A voice enquired: You're looking for the jazz? Next door along. 

Descending the stairs, out on the street, no one was around save for a couple standing in a darkened doorway. After a while, your correspondent ventured: You're the queue for the jazz? A short pause followed by a terse reply: Aye. The doors were due to open any minute. The thought occurred that there could be a sparse attendance. 

The venue? The Blue Lamp. The occasion? The Lorne Lofsky-Nigel Price Quartet in concert! Doors. Tickets checked, table bagged, let's head to the bar. Two handpulls, neither in use. Settling for a keg IPA (later it would be Guinness all the way), it was time to take a seat. Within minutes the place was packed to the rafters. Clearly the locals knew the routine. 

Guitarist for a decade or more with Oscar Peterson. Chet Baker and Dizzy Gillespie both on the cv, and, back home in Canada, a long association with fellow guitarist Ed Bickert, releasing albums under his own name, that's Lorne Lofsky. 

In addition to being a fine guitarist, Nigel Price is known for organising mammoth tours of the UK. His current autumn tour is exactly that - mammoth. Several of the dates feature the Lorne Lofsky-Nigel Price Quartet and this evening's appearance at the Blue Lamp was one of them. 

Joining Lofsky and Price were Jeremy Brown (Professor of Electric and Acoustic Bass at the Royal Academy) and the brilliant new generation drummer Joel Barford. 

Opening with I Remember You, Lofsky and Price would present what amounted to a guitar masterclass, supported by two of the best in the business - Messrs Brown and Barford (their solo opportunities would be many) . Across the course of two sets Lofsky combined thumb pick and finger style to dazzling effect, technique in abundance with an individual approach to improvisation. Price's abilities are well known to BSH readers. A formidable musician in his own right, Price offered contrast to his Canadian counterpart. 

Blossom Dearie's Sweet Georgie Fame, Nancy with the Laughing Face, the many guitarists in the Blue Lamp audience hung on every phrase, every note, taking it all in. Lofsky and Price stretched out on Toots Thielemans' Bluesette, our duo played My Funny Valentine (Brown and Barford sitting out) and Oscar Peterson's Sushi was given a serious workout (Price saying they just had to play something by O.P.), and, by way of an encore, the quartet had great fun (Barford soloing) on Things Ain't What They Used to Be.

The Lofsky-Price tour continues. On Sunday, if you're anywhere near Queen's Hall, Hexham (3:00pm) or Newcastle's Globe at 8:00pm don't miss these guys. Quite simply, they're somethin' else! Russell         

Set list: I Remember You; Sweet Georgie Fame; Invitation; Nancy with the Laughing Face; Bitter Suite; Morning Star; Bluesette; Estate; My Funny Valentine; Sushi; Things Ain't What They Used to Be.