Opening up with I Remember You it soon became apparent that this band was original even when playing non originals! The standard was played with an oblique almost Tristano-like ethereal approach and, in truth, Anderson’s dry sound did, at this stage, have a hint of Warne Marsh to it.

A series of original originals followed most of which I’d heard either at Scarborough or on downloads so the pieces had a degree of familiarity about them. Cold Spell, despite the title, saw the tenor sound become distinctly warmer and the ideas seemed to flow effortlessly from both sax and guitar. My Ideal was given a more lyrical interpretation than the previous standard and was none the worse for that. The set closed with Free Into Edinburgh a somewhat ambiguous title from guitarist Vanns that built up in intensity to a frenzied climax. A good first set.

A pint of The Bridge’s own brew (Castle Brown – not to be confused with…) went down well before it was back up the stairs – in this case it was in fact a Stairway To The Stars which followed Jamil Sherif’s Contentment.

The final number, inspired by the Island of Skye, did not ‘speed like a bird on the wing’ instead it began as a doom laden affair that seemed to take about 3 weeks to build up into a compelling opus. It was worth the wait! All four players contributed with a special mention of Gardner’s drumming which was rock solid in both solos and time. On bass, Marley did the necessary without flamboyance.

Afterwards met Kate Peters who informed me her band play Hoochie Coochie in February – one to look out for.

Lance Liddle – Matt Anderson Quartet @ The Bridge Hotel, Bebop Spoken Here Blog, 30th Oct 2011