Tyne Valley Stompers: Tom Derbyshire (double bass), ? (drums), ? (clarinet), Terry Harvey (banjo), Gerry Denning (trumpet & vocals) & John Crisp (trombone & vocals).
Sunday morning and it looked like rain. Should I go over to Saltwell Park to hear the Stompers? I could stay in and listen to Desert Island Discs. The jazz won.
I arrived at Gateshead in time to catch the second set. The park was a blaze of fuschia pink - a women's charity fun run in aid of cancer research was in full swing. Down bandstand way all was silent with the Dixielanders enjoying an interval break.
First tune of the second set was Pennies From Heaven and right on cue it started to rain. The bandstand looked like a good lightning conductor but the sextet played on. A line-up approximating the Tyne Valley Stompers (trumpet and trombone had been washed up north from Swale Valley Stompers way) entertained the bedraggled, most of whom took shelter from the pelting rain, audience. April Showers followed - how apt. Denning and Crisp shared the vocals, Terry Harvey supplied the chords, the clarinetist was fluent and full of invention and after a few more classic numbers including Hindustan and Alexander's Ragtime Band it was time to set off home in the rain.
Inclement weather aside this was a good start to a summer season of jazz in the parks.
Russell
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