Valery Ponomarev @ The Jazz Bar, Edinburgh - Aug. 19

Valery Ponomarev (trumpet); Tim Armacost (tenor sax); Paul Kirby (piano); Brian Shiels (double bass); Max Popp (drums)

Leaving the former Soviet Union for America in the 70s, Valery Ponomarev first emerged on the international scene as Art Blakey's favoured candidate to occupy the coveted Jazz Messenger trumpet chair. Predecessors included storied names: Dorham, Morgan, Hubbard et al. Successors would include Wynton Marsalis, Terence Blanchard, starry names indeed. After a stint of some four years, Ponomarev quit the Messengers to embark upon a career as an international touring artist.

For the last thirty three years Valery Ponomarev has made an annual appearance at the Edinburgh Fringe. Thirty three years! Clearly the Fringe likes Ponomarev and on the evidence of the first night in a run of five at this year's gathering, Ponomarev likes the Fringe, the Jazz Bar in particular.  

At 83 years young, Mr Ponomarev bubbles over with enthusiasm, make that infectious enthusiasm. Heaping praise upon his bandmates, engaging the audience, Mr P could go far! The Jazz Messengers would figure large during a set of some ninety minutes. Opening with a band original, For Morgan, it had 'Art Blakey' written all over it. Mr P said 'Morgan' could be Lee Morgan, perhaps Frank Morgan. 

Ponomarev's Fringe quintet featured familiar faces on the Edinburgh/international scene: flying in from a European tour, tenor saxophonist Tim Armacost, pianist Paul Kirby, bassist Brian Shiels, who stood on the same spot all of thirty three years ago when Mr P made his Chambers Street bow, and Edinburgh-based Chicagoan, drummer Max Popp. Tell It Like It Is (Wayne Shorter credited as the composer), Freddie Hubbard's Crisis, Shorter's One By One, the horns laying down the theme before, one by one, they shot for the stars. 

Mr P likes to talk and he did just that. His adoring audience hanging on his every word as he recalled working with Blakey, an anecdote for every occasion. As Ponomarev and Armacost went to the bar, the rhythm section - Kirby, Shiels and Popp - played Prelude to a Kiss. Worth the admission in itself. 

Returning to the stage, Valery Ponomarev signed off with...Blakey press roll...Blues March. The full house roared its approval. It's gonna be like this all week, thru Sunday. Russell