The Boiler Room @ The Bridge Hotel. November 3rd.

Enterprising music students from Newcastle College have booked the upstairs room at the Bridge Hotel on a Tuesday night throughout November to play some jazz. What a good idea! A cast of thousands - well okay, I lost count at nine - got up and ran through some standards, playing for two hours and more.

The guitar - led ensemble kicked - off with 'Green Tea' a tune by guitar hero John Scofield. Familiar numbers followed - 'Autumn Leaves', Benny Golson's 'Killer Joe', Joe Henderson's 'Recorda Me' all the while a changing bandstand; another guitarist with a bluesy feel (good on 'A - Train'), a six string electric bassist replacing a four string electric bassist (excellent time keepers both), a drummer switching to electric piano, another occupying the drum chair (most adept he was), a tenor player (consistent all night), an alto player, a late comer on piano (later on guitar) and on and on.

Miles was in the pad - 'All Blues' and 'So What', throw in some Bird and Monk and it made for a good night. No name check this week, I'll put names to faces next week. If you're in town Tuesday of next week call in at the Bridge, get yourself a pint and wander upstairs to hear the stars of tomorrow. Russell