John Etheridge lifts Spirits with a virtuoso performance

Posted on 3rd February 2023

John Etheridge is probably best known as guitarist for the prog-rock/jazz outfit Soft Machine, but he’s played with everyone from Stéphane Grappelli to Hawkwind. Known for his extraordinary dexterity and eclecticism, his visit to the Corn Hall highlighted his mastery of jazz and funk, but was most firmly rooted in the Blues.

The Blue Spirits Trio featured George Double on drums and Jim Watson on organ. Watson, heralding all the way from Attleborough, was a last minute stand in for covid- stricken Pete Whittaker, but you would never have guessed from this astonishingly assured performance. The three of them worked their way through leisurely instrumental versions of everyone from Ray Charles to Hank Williams. Along the way, we were treated to a couple of John Schofield numbers, as well as Etheridge’s own compositions.

Etheridge proved to be an avuncular fellow who liked his music and talent to do most of the talking. Nevertheless, there was still room in the set for the occasional chat. When he wasn’t talking about the vicissitudes of getting old – “when did falling over become having a fall” – he regaled his likeminded audience with shameless name drops. Gary Moore, Yehudi Menuhin and Jimi Hendrix were among the countless musicians he has shared a stage or, in Hendrix’s case, a meal with.

The second set opened with a brief run of solo numbers that showcased his complete mastery of his chosen instrument, and finished on Gary Geld’s Sealed with a Kiss. Throughout, all of the musicians impressed with their skills, but they never lapsed into the trap of endless noodling in a way that can bedevil jazz gigs. They wore their ability lightly – first and foremost, the evening’s focus was on music, and was all the better for it.