Jazz Café Jam Session @ Jazz Café, Newcastle. Sunday 22nd August.

Proprietor Keith Crombie has recently opened the doors of his famed establishment on a Sunday afternoon to anyone wishing to turn up and have a blow. The advertised start of 2:00 pm makes Dave Weisser's workshop session look like a tightly run ship - things got under way at about 4:30 pm! Such was the late start I was able to call into the Bodega, sup a couple of pints of Big Lamp Prince Bishop and watch the match - Newcastle United 6 Aston Villa 0 (the poorest six nil thrashing of a game I've ever seen).

Pianist Pete Gilligan, sometime accompanist to Zoe Gilby, Lindsay Hannon and Ruth Lambert, is the mainstay of the house band. Members of Budvivar (resident alternate Saturdays at the Jazz Café) turned out in force the afternoon after the night before. Pianist Chris Finch played trumpet and, as ever, Stuart Findon played tenor, Jim Crinson played bass and Eric Stutt swung it from the drum stool (Eric showed brilliant logisitcal planning in leaving his kit overnight at the venue) as Fiona Littlewood sang Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise.

Juke joint veteran Round Eyes Ray played harmonica on Nuages with accompaniment from piano, violin and guitar (Matthew Office). Piano player Alan Law turned up and sat in on Beautiful Love and there was a cracking version of Rhythm-a-ning and, to quote Keith Crombie, ''Mark Williams is the best guitarist in the north east''. Agreed Monsieur Crombie!

Mein Host was his usual self; gruff, uttering expletives and at intervals lobbing empty bottles into a bin with expert bad timing - Softly, As in a CRASH!!!. You couldn't make it up. After a while, with many more musicians queuing up to play, I left to place an order at my local Indian takeaway and fully intended to return to the Jazz Cafe. I didn't quite make it. I assume the music went on 'til Crombie time.

Russell.