Manchester Jazz Festival. Report by Ten Pressed Men +

Just got back from 2 days volunteering at Manchester Jazz Festival. Tasks included giving out flyers in the street/programmes at gigs, carrying instruments/gear in and out, head counting ,selling CDs and getting questionnaires filled in. Perks were:- A Free T shirt (size XL!!), soft drinks, food and good companionship with the other volunteers. Saturday: Based in St Anne's Square. Good weather, no wind and an excellent sound man. With 3 bands on I only got to listen to some of it.

Day One Program. Gerry Richardson's band kicked it all off in style (see photo). All copies of their 3 different CDs sold out even before they finished their set. What a wonderful surprise it was to find Don Fairly on trombone giving it some "real welly". The man is such a great all-rounder. The last time I heard him play was at our New Century Ragtime Orc. gig at Newbiggin. We have Don's own band booked for Ashington latter in the year playing in yet another era. All three bands had bari sax players but I think Sue was the only female musician in all 3 bands ------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday:Bridgewater Hall. The concert was in the foyer/bar area with about 100 seats and another 400 punters standing/leaning or lying on the floor' These 3 gigs were sponsored by Jazz Services. I met the London based Director of Jazz Services Chris Hodgkins and a Greek lady who looks after the listing and magazines etc. Chris said he comes to Whitley Bay a lot (I think his wife has a place there) Anyway he seemed to know everyone including Chris Yates, Mike Durham etc. Day 2 Program. The highlight of Sunday was the Ryan Quigley band - with Paul Booth and Brian Kellock. A lady travelling with the band was non other than Cathy Rae, daughter of the legend Scottish bass player Ronnie Rae. She said she was relaxing now after running a very successful Glasgow Jazz Festival.

John Taylor.