Blind Monk Trio

Review and photo Steve H from Bebop Spoken Here, 4 March 2017

Bob Whittaker (tenor sax); Hugo Harrison (bass); Johnny Hunter (drums).

The Blind Monk Trio apparently get their name from someone commenting in the past that they sounded like a drunk Thelonious Monk. Well I suppose that’s better than being called Three Blind Monks. Despite their name, there is no piano in the band which is a Bass/Sax/Drums combination. The band played a mixture of standards and original material with great aplomb.

Some of Hugo Harrison’s extended bass intros were outstanding. Bob Whittaker can really give it some serious muscle on sax but was also capable of some very subtle ballad playing. Completing the trio on drums was, the always welcome and regular Tyneside visitor, Johnny Hunter, who never fails to deliver and in this combo he is given plenty of room to stretch out with several impressive solos.

A hugely enthusiastic audience seemed to enjoy the high energy and top quality musicianship. The availability of splendid real ale certainly enhanced the experience of this correspondent, who may not have been quite blind drunk on departure, but certainly left the building very happy after experiencing an evening of great jazz.