Joe Steels (guitar); Ben Lawrence (keyboards); Andy Champion (double bass); John Hirst (drums)
Joe Steels is touring his new album. A Blue Patch, currently available as a download with vinyl to follow, would be given an airing here Blaydon Jazz Club. On a dry, but cold evening, a good number of folk made the effort. Joe, Ben Lawrence, Andy Champion and John Hirst arrived on Bridge Street well ahead of the punters to set up and run through one or two numbers.
Round the Block for starters, appropriately the first track on the new album, found Joe in typically melodic, flowing form. The Black Bull's audience would hear more than new material and, for the remainder of the first set, Joe revisited his back catalogue: The Wait with its swing section and Andy Champion laying down a first rate bass solo, Fingal's Cave, a drum feature for John Hirst, Dew Drops and The Wandering Herd (a tune about, or inspired by, cows!) with superlative extended guitar playing by bandleader Joe.
A new composition, Beyond the Horizon, opened the second set. More than swift, the musicians were in danger of disappearing over the horizon! Solos from Joe, the increasingly impressive pianist Ben Lawrence and bassist Andy Champion. The Traveller followed on immediately, Joe Steels content to let the music do the talking.
Returning to a cut from the new album, Between the Stars vied for the tune of the evening. Expansive, impressionistic, all four musicians were fully focused in creating a vast, kaleidoscopic canvas, the listener mesmerised, immersed in Joe Steels' music world. A Blue Patch, the album's title track, brought to a close a most enjoyable evening.
Next month's Blaydon Jazz Club concert (Mon. 16 March) features the Russ Morgan Quartet. The Black Bull, Bridge Street, NE21 4JJ, nearby parking, buses galore, Tyne Valley trains, lighter nights - see you there! Russell
No comments :
Post a Comment