Not Now Charlie

Review and photo by Lance Liddle from Bebop Spoken Here, 24 March 2016

Jamie Toms (tenor saxophone), Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar), Richard Campbell (piano), Liam Gaughan (bass) & Dave McKeague (drums).

The strangely named quintet hit the deck running on a strangely named composition – MCT. Composer Toms blew a marathon tenor solo of Gonsalves-like longevity. A sticky G# key notwithstanding, this was the business. Bass guitar and guitar kept the ball in play driven forward by McKeague’s forceful drumming and Campbell’s frenetic ‘comping’ this set a high benchmark; not just for themselves but for any band.

Several numbers were from the band’s recent album and others were even newer. Some had been played at previous gigs and some hadn’t.

Physical featured Toms’ Coltranic tenor as well as wild guitar thrashing from Pawel J. Russian Girl Who Speaks English began with a gentle, probing intro from guitar and piano although it didn’t stay that way for long!

Floating High, by pianist Campbell was something to behold. Ostensibly in 3 or was it 6 or 27? I wasn’t counting just enjoying the triplicity of the meter.

Telling Tales, inexplicitly, had the feel of a cèilidh band who’d od’d on poteen. Possibly the best number of the evening. It’s Not me it’s You featured Dave McKeague. The north east has a plethora of ace skin men at present and Dave is right up there with them.

And so the evening rolled on. Superb playing by all five.