Russell deCarle Trio: Jumpin Hot Club, Live Theatre, Newcastle

CANADIAN act, lead vocalist, acoustic guitar player Russell deCarle, making his first visit to the UK, showed why good things are worth waiting for. The former member of 1980s country band Prairie Oyster was joined by eloquent lead guitarist Steve Briggs and genial accordion player Denis Keldie, and sounded terrific throughout, as deCarle took the audience through western, old country and swing jazz with equal aplomb.

A spot of yodelling added to his already exemplary vocals exploits put the icing on the cake. As for the playing Keldie was masterful, subtle and cultured and Briggs likewise a man of great taste. Both were given license to display their rare skill to the full and there wasn’t a hair’s breadth between them.

deCarle kept the evening flow with stories spanning recently deceased country legend Merle Haggard as the trio performed one of his songs, Everybody’s Had The Blues. Another by Canadian hero Hank Snow featured with a couple of wonderful songs from Jimmie Rodgers.

It was one of those evening when you would have gladly walked a few miles to, and through driving wind and snow too. Just to hear him perform Chris Wall’s I Feel Like Hank Williams Tonight or a Tex-Mex styled version of Marty Robbins’ Ruby Ann.

You don’t come across accomplished performers like this every day; a feeling shared by the act that supported them Gateshead's own little ensemble Shipcote and Friends.

Maurice Hope