Jam Session @ The Jazz Café - Pink Lane Jumps.

Sarah Trevena (ten), Pete Gilligan (pno/dms), Mark Williams (gtr), Paul Grainger (bs), Alan Laws (pno/ten), David Carnegie (pno/dms), Ryan ? (dms), Ian Forbes (dms), Omid Ramak (dms), Ray Burns (hca).

If you want to have the best Sunday afternoon/evening of your life - jazz wise that is - pop into the Jazz Café on Newcastle's Pink Lane for the jam session. Acting on Russell's report from last week I did just that and it was a knock-out to rival Sonny Liston's 'icing' of Floyd Patterson back in the early '60s.

The above listing is just the musicians I heard - there may have been others before I arrived and probably others later. This is what jazz is all about - musicians jamming in a small room, letting it all hang out and enjoying themselves. Too many highlights to list but Sarah's tenor playing found some pleasing phrases, Pete kicked seven shades out of the keyboard and swung like Armageddon was round the corner and maybe it is!

What can you say about Mark Williams - the token Irishman? Let me hear a better guitar man.

Alan Laws played a few standards and, along with Sarah, had a good tenor ride on Mercy Mercy Mercy. Ian Forbes hit some skin on Mercy.

David Carnegie played piano on There Is No Greater Love before moving over to the kit.

A young guy, Graham, I think, also played some amazing drumnastics with Pete whilst Ray 'Rocky' Burns did In A Sentimental Mood on harmonica despite being disadvantaged by the lack of a mic. Paul Grainger was an unfamiliar name to me but he kept the rhythmic pulse going and had a few swingy solos.

Another nice thing, a relatively young and enthusiastic audience and a band that was low on bus passes.

There are a few negatives - no draught beer - just cans and the Gents toilet is two flights up.

Then there's the proprietor - Keith Crombie. Much maligned over the years, I think his heart is in the right place and he is not afraid to tilt a few windmills. Click here to hear the man himself expounding his views on jazz and choosing a few records. If you are interested in local jazz history this is compelling listening!

We have one thing in common - It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing!

Next week see's Splinter @ The Bridge returning - tell you what, I'll be coming here first!

Photos.

Lance.