Jam on Sundays

Glancing through the October "Jazz in London" I noted with envy that there were 17 Sunday lunchtime gigs spread across the Capital. By contrast, to the best of my knowledge, the only session in the north-east is the Big Band Bash with Musicians Unlimited Big Band at Hartlepool. Paradoxically, lunchtime sessions abound on weekdays - ain't nobody got no jobs to go to?

My love affair with Sunday lunchtime jazz began at the Bluebell pub in the Felling area of Gateshead in the early 1960s.

The resident band of Teddy Langston (tpt), Arthur Luke (tmb/bs), Billy Luke (pno), Ray Johnson (gtr) and Jimmy Stephenson (dms) were frequently augmented by musicians from the Oxford Galleries dance hall in Newcastle inc. Gary Cox on tenor. Legendary local trombon-player Ronnie McLean was another regular visitor. When the band folded the Phoenix Jazzmen took over for a while.

Later, in the early '70s, The Newcastle Big Band ruled Sunday mornings. Firstly at the Gosforth Hotel then, when that became too small, the bar of the University Playhouse in Newcastle. The crowds were enormous and the players outstanding (well most of them...) Nigel Stanger, Charlie Carmichael, Jeff Hedley, Bobby Carr, Jackie Denton etc. Just about anyone who was anyone went through the ranks inc. Sting who also played there with Last Exit. Another band that included Nigel Stanger and Stu Collingwood was The East Side Torpedoes who also enlivened the venue on Sundays.

The City Vaults in Newcastle's Bigg Market featured the Ronnie Young Band again with Charlie Carmichael on sax and clarinet. Bill Harper (pno) and Clem Avery (bs) were others in the line-up.

A talent contest was held over a couple of Sundays and the winner was Lew Watson now perhaps the most acclaimed tenor player north of Watford.

There was also The Jimmy Miller Trio at the Blaydon Races Hotel in Blaydon, Alan Glen at a pub in Sheriff Hill, Gateshead... I'm sure there were others that I've forgotten and that someone will remind me of but the upshot is that I think it's time for a revival of that Sunday morning tradition.

Lance.

As an afterthought, away from the north-east I had some wonderful Sunday mornings at The Tally-Ho in Kentish Town. When visiting London it was always my first port of call. The finale, invariably "Jumping at the Woodside", still rings in my ears when I look back. Fortunately, it was captured on a long deleted LP that I dig out from time to time.