(Review by Lance).
Just another night at the Black Swan jam session, or so it seemed. The house trio of Brad, Paul and Russ got things going with an original by Brad, For Joe, dedicated to Joe Pass. A super swinging version of 'S Wonderful and a nod towards Django with Nuages. Easthope blew tenor on what sounded like a Messengers' tune, newcomer Brito made an impressive debut with Doxy and Blue Bossa before the earth moved when Dulcie May Moreno - all the way from Kent - sang Louis Jordan's Trouble Ain't no Satisfaction and Pennies From Heaven. A class act indeed!
Martin Waugh - all the way from Edinburgh - played My Little Suede Shoes and Doc Summers popped up wielding a baritone sax. As the evening progressed his horns grew smaller, unlike Ray Burns who started out playing harmonica - it eventually morphed into an accordion. They did a job on September in the Rain.
There being no relief bassists or drummers in the house (John Pope was down at the Vortex with Archipelago and Matt was at Mass - Boston, Mass, that is) a break was called for with what potentially could have proved to be the highlight of the evening A piano/vocal duo set by Martin and Dulcie May. However, problems ensued in finding a mutually compatible key and, although they managed In a Sentimental Mood and Honeysuckle Rose neither quite hit the spot for me.
Next time I looked up there was a cast of thousands on stage! They included Summers on soprano, Showtime Gray on trombone, Michael Lamb on trumpet, McMurray on keys, Probyn on tenor, Ian White and Easthope also on tenor, Burnsy on accordion, Dixon on alto and, for all I know, Adolph Hitler on vibes. In various combinations and en masse we heard Satin Doll; Mr PC; Sonnymoon For Two; Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; I Found a New Baby (it sounds even better without a banjo!) Summers was now on sopranino sax. A fine alto player played but I didn't get his name - sorry - then Dulcie May returned for Moanin' she may have been but we weren't - no sir! 
This lady should be employed by the Kent Tourist Board.
Caravan finished the night off which somehow seemed appropriate as we boarded the number 27 Crusader.
Lance.
Bradley Johnston (guitar); Paul Grainger (bass); Russ Morgan (drums) + Richard Brito (guitar); Graham Easthope, Simon Probyn, Ian White (tenor saxes); Steve Summers (baritone, soprano, sopranino saxes); Michael Lamb (trumpet); David Gray (trombone); Ray Burns (accordion/harmonica); Martin Waugh, Jeremy McMurray (keys); A.N. Other (alto sax) and DULCIE MAY MORENO (vocals).
2 comments :
Hello! Thank you so much for including me and writing such lovely things, it was really fun to sing at this jam, all the players are 5***** in my opinion! It would have helped if I brought my charts for everyone, but I’ll definitely do that next time! Thank you again, also, I would love some of pics to share if possible. Best, Dulcie May
My pleasure. Please help yourself to photos or if you let me know which ones I can send them to you. Hope to hear you again. I missed you when you played at The Globe a couple of years back.
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