Michael Young Trio with Rod Sinclair @ The Engine Room, Sunderland - Jan. 18

Michael Young (keyboards); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums); Rod Sinclair (guitar)

The Engine Room was busy: reserved tables for diners, tables and booths occupied by social drinkers and, for those who were interested, a house trio with a special guest. If truth be told, most were there for the food and drink. Half a dozen or so were there to listen to the Michael Young Trio with special guest, guitarist Rod Sinclair. 

Approaching Sunderland's 'Cultural Quarter' thoughts turned to what we were likely to hear. As pianist Michael Young would be playing the house upright, guest Rod Sinclair, would, likely as not, arrive with his archtop. How wrong can one be?! Young opted to play his Nord keyboard, later telling your correspondent it was too much of a faff to wheel the house piano into position and, what's more, the manhandling all too easily knocks the instrument out of tune. 

As Young would be playing his Nord, Rod Sinclair wisely stuck to his trusty Telecaster. As the diners dined and drinkers drank, the trio 'plus one' set about playing a varied selection of tunes, ranging from modal Miles, to bossa Jobim, to a Metheny?/Metheny-esque ballad, to an uptempo, Latin feel On Green Dolphin Street.  

Bandleader Young's regular rhythm section - bassist Paul Grainger and drummer Abbie Finn - handled everything with consummate ease. A swift All the Things You Are, Sinclair excelling on God Bless the Child with soulful piano from Young, bassist Grainger swinging it on Caravan as Finn showed how its done - done to perfection. Young and Sinclair tore it up on West Coast Blues and the quartet went out on a high with Herbie Hancock's Watermelon Man.  

The Engine Room's ambience lends itself to a casual, laidback session. Those who choose to listen do just that, others do their own thing. Next month (Sunday 15 February, 2:30pm start) features the Michael Young Trio with ace trombonist Jason Holcomb.