Lucy Yeghiazaryan w. the Peter Beets Trio & Gideon Tazelaar @ BIMHUIS, Amsterdam - Mar. 7

Lucy Yeghiazaryan (vocals); Peter Beets (piano); Steve Zwanink (double bass); Martijn Vink (drums); Gideon Tazelaar (tenor sax)

New York-based singer Lucy Yeghiazaryan first came to the attention of BSH (and others) thanks to one of the very few plus points of lockdown - the livestream. Live from Emmet's Place (NYC) became essential late night (UK) viewing. From one week to the next, pianist Emmet Cohen would invite one A-lister after another to join him on an online gig. And that's where Lucy Yeghiazaryan comes in...       

From Schiphol Airport, train to Amsterdam Centraal Station, then a short tram journey to the BIMHUIS. Amsterdam! The Bimhuis! Lucy Yeghiazaryan! From Emmet Cohen's NYC apartment to Amsterdam's BIMHUIS, Ms Yeghiazaryan was in town! 

Designed by Denmark's 3XN Architects, the modernist waterfront venue has been presenting jazz and improv for more than half a century. It was over in Philadelphia where pianist Peter Beets first heard this evening's guest sing. An invitation extended, the Peter Beets Trio - Steve Zwanink, bass, Martijn Vink, drums - welcomed Yeghiazaryan to Holland and this Amsterdam engagement would be one of a handful of concerts on European soil. This evening, in modernist surroundings, Ms Yeghiazaryan would conduct a masterclass in the art of jazz singing. 

Walking across Willem Breukerbrug (a bridge named in honour of the late, great Dutch improviser) and into a spacious atrium, the place was all but deserted. The entrance to the BIMHUIS was what you could call discreet, accessed by a small lift to the third floor. A cafe/bar/restaurant catered for drinkers and diners, all very discreet. Looking in on the auditorium, a piano tuner was getting on with the job at hand in an otherwise deserted room. 

First impressions? Impressive, very impressive! Ordering drinks at the bar, the whole place exuded calm. In marked contrast to some UK venues, there was a notable, and most welcome, absence of door staff. Drinks in glasses, not plastic, were being taken into the auditorium. How very civilised! As the eight thirty start approached the room was full, some folk were sitting on the stairs. 

Without fanfare, the Peter Beets Trio with guest Lucy Yeghiazaryan strolled onto the stage. Thou Swell, straight in. Wow! Watching a livestream is one thing, hearing it live is another thing altogether. Presence, poise, phrasing, timing, we were listening to one swinging singer working with one swinging trio. Fabulous! 

Devil May Care, I Got it Bad and That Ain't Good, it doesn't get any better than this. Pianist Beets can play, that's for sure - stomping feet, swinging the whatchamacallits off it. Bassist Steve Zwanink, unperturbable, a touch of NHØP about him. Drummer Martijn Vink played with verve and restraint in equal measure, a marvellous musician.

Dave Brubeck's Strange Meadow Lark, Bob Dorough's Nothing Like You, from time to time Yeghiazaryan was joined by tenor saxophonist Gideon Tazelaar (heard in the BSH heartland in autumn 2024). As accompanist to a vocalist, NYC resident Tazelaar kept out of the way when he was required to keep out of the way, occasionally turning up the wick as and when called for. 

As a venue, the BIMHUIS takes some beating. As a performer, Lucy Yeghiazaryan more than met the highest of expectations. As a concert, off hand, a better one doesn't spring to mind. Russell