Gerry Richardson Trio @ The Gala Theatre, Durham - March 9

Gerry Richardson (organ); Rod Sinclair (guitar) & Paul Smith (drums)

(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Malcolm Sinclair). 

Sold out. If it’s the Gala’s monthly Friday lunchtime jazz concert take it as read, it’s sold out.* This month’s concert featured Hammond organ master Gerry Richardson. These days the Newcastle-based organist rarely, if ever, takes the big beast on the road. Now, for ease of transportation, his instrument of choice is a Crumar Mojo; lighter, smaller and portable. Otherwise, the sound is much the same. Some of the Gala Theatre’s regular patrons were hearing the Gerry Richardson Trio for the first time – what would they make of it all?

Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth - July 21

© Ken Drew 

Gerry Richardson (organ); Garry Linsley (alto sax); Rod Sinclair (guitar); Paul Smith (drums)

The Gerry Richardson Quartet is an occasional happening. Gerry Richardson's Big Idea is nothing like an occasional happening, it's more like a once in a blue moon event.* The former - Gerry (organ), Garry Linsley (alto sax), Rod Sinclair (guitar), Paul Smith (drums) - rocked up at Seaforth Street in Blyth for a Monday lunchtime (three quarters of an hour) gig at the town's Yamaha Music School.

© Ken Drew 

Comin' Home Baby (back in the day a hit for Mel Tormé) opened the show and the boys were 'on it' from note one. Soul Shadows (the Richardson vocal right on the money), My Mother's Eyes (dusted-off from the Gerry Richardson pad), time was flying. Solos shared between Gerry, Garry Linsley (alto sax) and Telecaster maestro Rod Sinclair were never less than excellent - what's new?! These guys could have played for an hour and three quarters, as it was, a mere forty five minutes and they would be done for the day. 

Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Jazz Café. March 9

Gerry Richardson (Hammond organ), Garry Linsley (alto saxophone), Rod Sinclair (guitar) & Adam Sinclair (drums)

(Review by Russell)

March 9, UK Live Music Census day. A nation wide music industry census to gauge the health of the music scene canvassing opinion from audiences, musicians, venue operators and promoters. The Tyneside element included Sage Gateshead and a range of Newcastle venues from the small scale pub gig to the ‘plastic glass stand-up booking fee will apply’ establishment. As luck would have it Newcastle’s Jazz Café was on a convenient walking distance circuit of the dedicated canvassers.

Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Sunderland Minster - May 15

Gerry Richardson (organ, vocals); Garry Linsley (alto sax); Rod Sinclair (guitar); Paul Smith (drums)

Sunderland's thriving Cultural Quarter was a hive of activity. The Peacock was preparing to host a rock band, the Fire Station was readying itself for the arrival of several hundred ticket holders to a reggae concert, the Empire Theatre was about to host its third performance of the day (The Choir of Man) and, over the road at Sunderland Minster, we were about to enjoy another Old Black Cat Jazz Club concert.

Press release: Sunday Night @ the Globe - Gerry Richardson's Big Idea. IT'S TONIGHT - NOT TO BE MISSED!

After a packed-out reunion gig in October 2025, Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea returns to The Globe for another night of powerful jazz/soul/funk.

Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea is a dynamic nine-piece Hammond-organ-based band exploring the jazz organ genre to the max! Soul, gospel, funk, swing and samba are all part of the mix. Add to that some kicking original tunes, many written as tributes to the legendary jazz and soul musicians who have inspired Gerry throughout his career and you get an unbeatable format for a great night’s music.

The Big Idea are: – Gerry Richardson – organ and vocals, Mark Webb & Dave Hignett – trumpet/flugelhorn, David Gray – trombone, Garry Linsley, Stuart Johnson & Sue Ferris – saxophones, Rod Sinclair – guitar and Paul Smith —drums.

Gerry Richardson's Big Idea @ Corner House, Newcastle. Thursday 18th November

Gerry Richardson's Big Idea: Gerry Richardson (Hammond), Rod Sinclair (guitar), Graeme Hare (drums), Garry Linsley (alto saxophone), Stuart Johnson (tenor & soprano saxophones), Sue Ferris (tenor & baritone saxophones, flute), Mark Webb (trumpet & flugel horn), Dave Hignett (trumpet & flugel horn), Keith Norris (trombone) Hammond maestro Gerry Richardson reconvened Big Idea at the refurbished, if not salubrious, Corner House Hotel. Guitarist Rod Sinclair was on top form and drum dep Graeme Hare was so good that the fixture that is Paul Smith wasn't missed at all!

Stone Church opened proceedings. Blues for Big Red was a feature number for Sinclair (Rod was once upon a time a redhead) and Another Dark One revealed Hare's excellent sight-reading skills as he negotiated a convoluted drum 'n bass pattern with Stuart Johnson's soprano playing setting the standard.

Richardson's 'greatest hit' (aka African Sunset) was just about guaranteed to be in the set and Arturo Sandoval, Michel Camilo and Paquito D'Rivera were honoured with a cracking Autumn in the Barrio (no surprise then that the trumpets - Hignett and Webb - were to the fore). Richardson's late night saloon bar tune Think I'll Lay Waste to Myself Tonight is made for the bandleader's down beat Mose Allison style delivery - this was GR at his vocal best. Take the Tee Train, a Richardson classic, closed out the first set.

The interval meant a trip to the bar. There was a queue a mile long. It was the band, they had beaten me to it! Refuelled (eventually), the second set provided yet more highlights including Big Jazz Club in the Sky and Gil Scott Heron's Lady Day and John Coltrane. The latter number is a favourite of this reviewer. It exemplifies the very spirit of Big Idea.

Two sets of good tunes with plenty of solo opportunities for all - altoist Garry Linsley knows the material inside out, Keith Norris had a blast and the diminuitive Sue Ferris yet again produced a big sound on tenor, muscular baritone and free-flowing flute. A good session.

The versatile Rod Sinclair can be heard in another context on Sunday evening with fellow guitarist James Birkett at the Bridge Hotel as they play the music of the likes of Charlie Christian, Carl Kress and Dick McDonaugh. Russell

Gerry Richardson Quartet @ the Lit & Phil - March 20

© Patti

Gerry Richardson (organ, vocals);  Garry Linsley (alto sax);  Rod Sinclair (guitar); Graeme Hare (drums).

Another Friday at the Lit and Phil and another full house sold out weeks ago. If you want a ticket for these monthly Friday concerts, you have to be quick off the mark. Today the offering was the well known and well respected Gerry Richardson leading a quartet with a mixture of soul, funk, jazz and blues.

Everyone seated, announcements made, and then wham! straight into Ben Tucker's Comin' Home Baby. A tune long associated with Herbie Mann and Mel Tormé, this blues classic set the scene for things to come, no prisoners were to be taken, just hold onto your hats and enjoy the ride. There were blistering solos aplenty  from Gerry, Rod Sinclair and Garry Linsley.  Graeme Hare, sitting in for  regular drummer Paul Smith (on tour with Lindisfarne) looked very comfortable behind his kit and was obviously enjoying himself, no more so than when he led the band into African Sunset, a Richardson original.

Sunday night @ the Globe: Gerry Richardson's Big Idea - July 5

Gerry Richardson (Crumar keyboard, vocals); Dave Hignett (trumpet, flugelhorn); Darren Irwin (trumpet); David Gray (trombone); Garry Linsley (alto sax); Stuart Johnson (tenor, soprano sax); Sue Ferris (baritone sax, flute); Rod Sinclair (guitar); Paul Smith (drums)

Once upon a time a Gerry Richardson gig was a rare happening. Of late, Newcastle Jazz Co-op's Railway Street HQ has become the band's primary rehearsal/performance venue. This evening's concert was the nine-piece outfit's third appearance in something like twelve months.  

Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Hoochie Coochie - March 16

(© Malcolm Sinclair)

Gerry Richardson (organ, vocals); Garry Linsley (alto sax); Rod Sinclair (guitar); Paul Smith (drums)

The rarely spotted Gerry Richardson Quartet have recently been seen and heard twice. The Globe last month and tonight at Hoochie Coochie. Enough to make a soul/funk/jazz/blues twitcher to er well start twitching!

And twitch we did. The northeast has produced the UK's two finest exponents of the B3 or, in this case, a Crumar, in the form of the late Mike Carr and Gerry Richardson. Strong words I know but I'm open to discussion.

Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea @ The Jazz Café. Feb 2

(Review by Russell/photo courtesy of Mike Tilley)

Stone Church. The Big Idea’s set list opener, Gerry Richardson’s brooding Hammond, then the explosive, dissipating horns. First thoughts? Gig of the year! The Big Idea is, without question, one of the cast iron, nailed-on bands. Blues for Big Red, then African Sunset (Richardson’s self-deprecating observation: Our big hit). The nine-piece hit the ground running, all the horns killing.

Big Jazz Club in the Sky – when you’ve heard it once you can join in with the lyrics – a list of the jazz greats, a winning tune. The Turnaround Shuffle (recent recruit to the drum chair Adam Sinclair on the money), Lady Day and John Coltrane (one of Richardson’s best vocals), the skanking Ska Odyssey (Big Red himself, Rod Sinclair on top form, as he was all night), and a new one in the pad, a Clarence Wheeler number, blistering it was. It will be in the set list next time – be there to hear it.

CD Review: So Many Reasons Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea

Gerry Richardson (keyboards & vocals); Dave Hignett & Mark Webb (trumpets); Garry Linsley (alto & tenor saxophones); Stuart Johnson (tenor & soprano saxophones); Sue Ferris (baritone saxophone & flute); Keith Norris & Rick Taylor (trombones); Rod Sinclair (guitar); Neil Harland (electric bass); Paul Smith (drums); Liz Corney & Lindsay Hannon (backing vocals)

(Review by Russell)

Hammond virtuoso Gerry Richardson has worked in music education for many years and his Big Idea is heard rarely in concert. So Many Reasons is the band’s follow up CD to the live recording Cookin’ at the Cluny. This new release of seven tracks arranged by the bandleader features the addition of versatile bassist Neil Harland and backing vocalists  Lindsay Hannon and Liz Corney. The line-up boasts an array of accomplished soloists and Richardson is more than happy to put them in the spotlight. 

Gerry Richardson Trio + Jim Birkett/Rod Sinclair Duo. Newcastle College.

Tonight was a tough call. did I go to the Chilli for the regular Wednesday night with Dave and the guys? Did I go to The Cluny for guitar hero Allan Holdsworth? Or did I go to Newcastle College for the Gerry Richardson Trio?

In the end I opted for the latter and it was a wise choice; TWO guitar heroes in the form of the Rod Sinclair/Jim Birkett Duo. Rod and Jim played a fine acoustic opening set that included material from Eddie Lang to Pat Metheny via Django Reinhardt. In particular, Albert Harris' "Dedications" hit the spot.

Rod stayed on for the next set thus making the trio a quartet - Gary Linsley (alto), Gerry Richardson (Hammond/vocals) and Paul Smith (dms) completing the line up.

This was a rocking blues set with Gerry playing out of his skull on the Billy Preston composition "Mission Statement" that had the B3 smokin'! His vocal on Gil Scott-Heren's "Lady Day and John Coltrane" didn't take any prisoners either.

The final set brought Jim Birkett off the bench for some kickass funk/soul that was greeted enthusiastically by the predominantly student audience.

"Ornithology" began with a rather unusual rhythm but once into the normal groove moved along a bit.

Rod and Jim both had a good blast on a Freddy King rocker whilst, through it all, Gary Linsley kept his cool and soloed effectively and tastefully.

Paul Smith, always an impressive drummer, ensured things swang.

A good night and it was free!

NOTE: The gig at the college by Gerry Richardson's Big Idea, scheduled for Thursday 30 Oct is now on Monday 10 Nov and entrance is £7 (£3.50 conc.).

Photos.

Gerry Richardson Quartet @ Yamaha Music School, Blyth - Mar. 30

Gerry Richardson (organ, vocals); Garry Linsley (alto sax); Road Sinclair (guitar); Paul Smith (drums)

Vying for renewable energy capital of the UK, the south east Northumberland port of Blyth is on the up. A harbour front hotel, a recently opened arts/cinema space and not one but two thriving music schools, if it's a Monday lunchtime, it's Yamaha Music School time.

Gerry Richardson's Big Idea @ Hoochie Coochie - October 21

(Review/photo by JT)

I can’t believe that it’s a year since Gerry Richardson’s Big Idea was at Hoochie (that memorable gig with STING.) The band's performance there yesterday was their third annual visit but unfortunately no special guest this time. Warren informs me that Gerry’s trio also gets an annual outing, but I must have missed that.

                                                                                                                               

The first set began with three instrumentals - Stone Church, Blues for Red followed by Ska Odyssey. Big Jazz Club in the Sky was next - a vocal for Gerry. African Sunset,  Turnaround Shuffle came next. The set finished with my favourite vocal from Gerry, Lady Day and John Coltrane.

Newcastle Jazz Festival Day Three. Jay Phelps; Sue Ferris; Gerry Richardson - Tyne Bank Brewery. August 15

Jay Phelps (trumpet, vocal); Dean Stockdale (piano); Andy Champion (bass); Dave McKeague (drums).

Save the best for last has always been a good game plan and never has that proved more so than the final set of this year's Newcastle Jazz Festival and, I say that with all due respect to the other performers who have
made this weekend such a great success.

From the opening few bars of the soundcheck (Blue Monk) the word that screamed at me was class! This was it - the real deal.

Jay Phelps is the greatest trumpet player I've heard since Roy Hargrove - maybe even going further back to Dizzy. Think Fats Navarro, Clifford Brown, Lee Morgan, Freddie Hubbard - Jay Phelps is in that league and miles ahead of the rest.

Live at Lanercost presents The Gerry Richardson Trio - Lanercost Cricket Club – Saturday September 26th 7.30pm

Gerry Richardson has had a full and eventful career both as an accomplished musician and composer. He has a wealth of experience in all styles of music involving him with some of the biggest names in jazz & rock.

In the 70s he and Sting formed the seminal North East Jazz Rock band 'Last Exit'. Gigs have included work with The Police and Eberhard Schoener, Billy Ocean, Guy Barker, John Miles, Alan Price, Ian Shaw and Elliott Randle (Steely Dan). Gerry played organ on Sting's 1996 million selling album 'Mercury Falling'.

In 2008 Gerry got to play Carnegie Hall (Rain Forest Foundation concert) with Billy Joel, Sting and a stellar band including Narada Michael Walden, Larry Carlton and Will Lee.

The Gerry Richardson trio features Gerry on Hammond B3 organ, Paul Smith on Drums and Gary Linsley on sax.Visit http://www.gerryrichardson.com/ for more information and to listen to tracks including Sting on Springtime.

Tickets: £10 (members £8) Kids £5.

Available from: Brampton Post Office or 016977 41829

(Info from David Gosling).

Gerry Richardson Soul Quartet @ Hoochie Coochie - October 27.

Gerry Richardson (Hammond SK2/vcl); Rod Sinclair (gtr); Neil Harland (bs gtr); Adam Sinclair (dms).

(Review by Lance).

Billed as The Gerry Richardson Soul Quartet the jazz was at a minimum - or was it? Of course it wasn't! Irrespective of the tune or the rocky rhythm being laid down, when these guys solo they're playing jazz whether or not the audience know it! Mind you tonight, those borderlines were stretched, particularly during the second set, a set devoted to the music of Booker T and the MGs.

Gerry Richardson's Big Idea at Newcastle College. Reports by John Taylor and Russell Corbett

Gerry Richardson's Big Idea gave a very polished performance at Newcastle College last night. This was my first concert at the performing arts theatre and the acoustics were really good. Sometimes organ led bands can be dominated by the organist. Not so with Gerry's band - everyone had space for excellent solo work. Only one small complaint - too many lighting changes.

John.

***********************************

Russell says:

First of all I agree with John's small complaint; the lighting was hopeless. The brass section was amused! So to the gig. Gerry wheeled-out the juggernaut that is the Hammond B3 and warmed-up the valves nicely with old favourite "Stone Church". Rod Sinclair featured on "Blues for Big Red" followed by the human metronome that is Paul Smith on the first of two African tunes. A better drummer there ain't for this band, simple as that.

The first set concluded with a smokin' take on "Take the Tee Train". The second half featured a Ray Charles medley; Gerry asked the audience to imagine the boys in the band as the Raelettes. A vivid imagination was called for! That said, Sue Ferris could no doubt make a go of it. On second thoughts Sue is better deployed in her present role; that of bringing superb flute, tenor and baritone sax playing to the session. A marvellous flautist, a tough tenor and tamer of the beast that is the baritone sax.

Stuart Johnson offered some blistering soprano sax (he deserves to be heard more). Last but by no means least, the man himself (GR) is a generous band-leader (solos all round), a singer in the Mose Allison/Georgie Fame mould (perhaps an acquired taste - I for one enjoy it) and no mean Hammond player! A Great Idea is the Big Idea. Another great idea would be to catch the band on its next Newcastle outing at the Corner House, February 5th next year. Russell.

(Gerry Richardson Hammond Organ & Vocals. Mark Webb, Dave Hignett trumpets. Gary Linsley, Stuart Johnson, Sue Ferris saxophones. Keith Norris trombone. Rod Sinclair guitar. Paul Smith drums.)

Gerry Richardson & Adam Sinclair @ The Jazz Café - July 25

Gerry Richardson (Hammond SK - 1/vcl); Adam Sinclair (dms).
(Review by Lance/photos courtesy of Mike Tilley).

I haven't heard all the Saturday night duo sessions at the Jazz Café but this one must be up there with the best.

We realised it would be different when Gerry recited Stanley Holloway's monologue Albert and the Lion as part of his soundcheck - a sad tale and enough to put anyone off taking their child to the zoo (although not other people's children!)

This is What I Do - Gerry Richardson's Big Idea @ The Sage.

Gerry Richardson (Hammond/vocal); Rod Sinclair (gtr); Garry Linsley (alto); Stuart Johnson (tenor/soprano); Sue Ferris (baritone/ tenor. flute); Dave Hignett, Mark Webb (trumpets); David Gray (trombone); Neil Harland (bass); Paul Smith (drums); Liz Corney, Lindsay Hannon (backing vocals) 

This could have been called Gerry Richardson's Even Bigger Idea featuring as it did backing vocalists and an extra trumpet. 

So Many Reasons kicked off the album launch. it also closed the show when an encore was demanded. In between, Gerry, sans bass pedals, made the Hammond roar and  sang/played the tracks from the new CD which constituted the excellent opening set. This included, among others, Ska Odyssey featuring new kid on the block David Gray in an extended big brassy toned trombone solo, Gil Scott-Heron's Lady Day and John Coltrane with Rod Sinclair to the fore and Sue Ferris was impressive throughout - particularly on a flute piece titled Song of Ferris (or something similar). Sue also blew some gutsy baritone. Garry Linsley was his usual cool self on alto and Neal Harland a suitable replacement for Gerry's feet. Liz and Lindsay added an extra dimension although a touch more volume would have been welcome.
Interval time and the bar area soon filled and friends old and new passed judgement.
It was favourable and comparisions were drawn with Georgie Fame and Mose Allison.
Back in Hall Two, Gerry kicked off with Take The T ee Train, African Sunset saw Dave "Highnote" have a blast and Paul Smith got in a parradiddle or two although Paul's piece de Resistance came towards the end with an awesome display of speed drumming.
It was a good, well-attended launch.
Lance.