It is Friday

There was concern and apprehension in the air last night when I went into Burgundy's. It was going to be the lovely Jayne Crowe and I was looking forward to sketching her. Ted said "She can't be with us as she is not well". And Ted himself was clearly under the weather too! However saxman Paul Froggatt and keyboardman Mike Reynolds were there trying to look like a quartet!

Ted was incredibly apolgetic and felt he had left everybody down - but he shouldn't have as these things happen.

We knew how brilliant Paul and Mike are and they certainly entertained us with magical sounds, great interactions and some numbers that were new to me. We had the privelaged opportunity to appreciate their talent.

Then through the back door appeared a double bass case followed by Stu Luthwaite. A round of applause and a break for the double bass to appear from its case.

Stu was in awesome form - I would not have been surprised if I was told that he had had a few glasses of wine before hand. Anyway he had answered the call from Paul Froggatt.

I could see that Paul and Mike had to let go and create both physical and music space for this bass maestro who was on a mission. A different but incredibly enjoyable night with these guys oozing talent.

However I had got inspired into this sketch before Stu arrived and he was jokingly not best pleased to be missed out.......and again according to him! Bass players are generally at the back in gigs and that can be the only reason. Anyway I took some photos and I may very well do some extra sketches of him - inspired by his playing last night. Having checked my website, this is an old sketch of him from Oct 2010