Olive Rudd (vcl), Ray Harley (tpt), Herbie Hudson (tmb/vcl), Jim McBriarty (clt/vcl), Malcolm Armstrong (pno), Alan Rudd (bs), Tommy Graham (dms).Despite the demise of the River City Jazzmen - chronicled elsewhere - today it seemed as though they'd never been gone. On stage at Rosie's there were at least three former members from three different editions of the RCJ plus a couple of RCJ occasionals. There was even one of their former drummers in the audience.
Like the River City, the Maine Street Jazzmen are firm in their belief that good jazz should also be good entertainment and that's what today was all about.
As I passed through the portals of Rosie Malone's I was engulfed by a Kid Ory-like upward glissando on Savoy Blues - Herbie Hudson 'callin' the chillun home'.
For a moment I though it was 1954 and I was in the Beverly Cavern out in LA. But no, the music may have been caught in a timewarp, a most enjoyable timewarp I hasten to add, but this was definitely South Shields 2010 - the cigarette littered pavement told me that.
The musical timewarp ambience continued with Jim McBriarty's vocal on Nobody's Sweetheart; almost sacrilege to use a mic. it should have been a megaphone. I love the line "... painted lips, painted eyes, wearing a bird of paradise..." could the era be better typified?
Ballin' the Jack brought back memories of school dances and of buying a 78rpm version by Ory in a record shop in Hawick (Scotland) - still got it.
Olive strutted her familiar repertoire - Some of These Days, Swing That Music, Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland, I Double Dare You , winners all but it is a long time since I heard her sing I Thought About You (request for next week.)
Ray led the ensembles and soloed with his customary vigour and Jim, when not waxing lyrical over birds of paradise played his, as ever, flawless clarinet solo's. Rhythm section were solid Jackson with Malcolm making out like Bob Zurke of the old Bob Crosby Bobcats.
It was a good afternoon. You guys who haven't stowed away on the ferry don't know what your missing in sunny (ish) South Shields.
Lance.
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