Pete Tanton & Alan Law @ Jesmond Library - June 12

Pete Tanton (trumpet, flugelhorn, vocals); Alan Law (keys)

A bright summer's afternoon found a fair sized crowd in Jesmond Library although none of them were there as bibliophiles. 

As one expects in libraries there was an almost cathedralesque silence about the room, leave your phone unsilenced at your peril!

In the performance area the two musicians fine tuned instrument and programme then, after an introduction by John Rowland, the soft spoken promoter, the duo opened up with Jobim's Wave. Tanton on flugel and vocal, Law on Roland 88 keyboard.

It was laid back, neither musician going for the jugular which was the pattern of the afternoon. Whether on trumpet, flugel or voice Tanton's alter ego, Chet Baker, was never far away. Law was relatively restrained giving weight to the Miles Davis maxim that less is more. However, this introspective approach proved perfect for the surroundings and I doubt if Will Shakespeare turned over in his grave.

The material was a choice selection of fairly familiar standards sung by Tanton in his cool, take it or leave it vocals - the audience were happy to take it. Likewise, on trumpet or flugel, they were equally impressed.

Law may have had less of the limelight but his solo on Bésame Mucho, for me, got the cigar just acing Tanton's Spanish vocal on the same tune. 

However, this most enjoyable hour wasn't a point scoring exercise but a case of two musicians sharing their mutual respect.

A miniature gem. Lance

Wave; Bridges (Nascimento); This Guy's in Love With You; Come Rain or Come Shine; Bésame Mucho; It Could Happen to You; Over the Rainbow; Look For the Silver Lining