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.
10 comments :
I had the misfortune of visiting the "Jazz Cafe" one Saturday night, just about a week after I had sat next to "grumpy" Keith at John Wilson's wedding reception (quite a long time ago) at Gershwins on Dean Street, along with all the other jazzers from the area.
After I had paid 12 quid for a taxi to get to Pink Lane, Grumpy stopped me at the door and told me he wasn't letting me in because I had a suit on!!
Taxi? It's only a five minute walk!
Lance........It was the week AFTER Johns reception that I went, not the same day!! It's all in the first three lines, and the taxi ride was from home. I enjoyed reading Russell's summary though.
My apologies!
If anyone sees Keith can u say hello from Gill and thank you for Josephines, the flapper dresses and all the champagne especially for looking after me when I really needed it- they were fab times XX
Gill, I'm sure someone will. I'll be absent for 3 weeks otherwise I'd do it myself - in the meantime I'm intrigued...
Sadly Keith died this afternoon . In the best way Keith was never bland and behind the bluster there was the heart of a lion , tremendous kindness and a wicked sence of humour and sometime sheer bloodymindness he will be greatly missed
Does anyone know when and where Keiths funeral is?
Hi Bob, You dont know about Keiths funeral yet do you?
Matk Williams is some guitar player, your quite right trhere Russell.
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