Mark Wade: Live at The Cowshed

In a field just a few miles north of London lies a new jazz venue with a great vibe, food, drink, lighting and an exceptional sound system: even the piano is a great one. On stage last night at The Cowshed was the brilliant Mark Wade Trio. 

It’s always a pleasure to hear great musicians who are used to gracing international stages - and especially when it’s just a few minutes from home!

Alongside Mark was artistic director of The Cowshed, Marco Marconi (piano) and Matt Fishwick (drums) and together they treated the packed audience to a selection of bebop standards and original compositions.

Tunes included those by Charlie Parker and beautiful interpretations of Some Day My Prince Will Come and - finishing off the evening - A Night in Tunisia.

The real treats were in Mark’s own pieces, including It Gets Late Early, inspired by McCoy Tuner and Short, a ballad Mark wrote fin honour of the late, great Wayne Shorter. Equally delightful was Little Charmer, dedicated to his own cat.

The second set included Jesu from New Stages, a reflection of Bach’s Jesu Joy of Man’s Desiring. As Mark explained to the audience, that would usually be the perfect moment to plug his album and sell CDs, but they were all sold out after the earlier dates of the Switzerland and UK tour. At least it’s possible to buy it online.

I confess to being biased, I’ve interviewed Mark for Harmonious World, and there’s a new episode coming to follow up on our chats in 2020 and 2024. I’ve also interviewed Marco and, in fact, Marco and Mark’s gig at Benslow Music in 2020 was one of my last live shows to review before lockdown hit.

If you can, get along to The Cowshed to hear international artists in a simply beautiful, purpose-built venue that sets the standard for jazz performance spaces.

‘New Stages’ by Mark Wade Trio is available on CD and Digital from Dot Time Records

Next up at The Cowshed is Lianne Carroll on Friday 1 May. Get your tickets now if there are any left - it’s bound to sell-out