(Review by Lance)
Bourbon Street Parade got us cruising down the river and what a lovely cruise it was - despite the lack of real ale!
We were passing St. Peter's Basin Marina - that yuppie haven. The yachts may not have been exactly Monte Carlo but they had the edge on Hebburn Marina, a few miles down river and when the band blew When My Dreamboat Comes Home, it, somehow, seemed appropriate.
One of our contributors was drinking Swedish Cider - perhaps an act of homage to the Anglo-Swedish Boiler Repair Company whose logo dominated a stretch of the river. Mike Durham was singing Everybody Loves My Baby as we approached that part of the River Tyne that was once wall to wall shipyards - where did they all go to? In the Olympics, China was leading the medal table.
Tishomingo Blues took us downstream where verdant pastures contrasted with bland, faceless industrial units. What went on behind these walls? Were we creating weapons of mass destruction? a Germ Warfare program or maybe just a council funded Cannabis Farm.
We kicked off with Bourbon Street Parade and, lo and behold, a moored container ship - The Bourbon Front!
Mike sang Too Busy - my favourite version of this is by Kay Starr and I hope Mike will forgive me for saying, it still is!
The scenery continued to unfold - our rugged industrial heritage, Willington Quay Boat Club, more green pastures and Call Centres.
The sad sight of North Shields Fish Quay...
The band took a break, the boat turned around.
After experimenting with John Smith's, Budweisser and Stella, I returned to JS and WJRK played Jazz Me Blues.
The return journey took in the other side of the river - When You and I Were Young Maggie - brought memories of when I was young(er) and the landmarks that are now long gone.
Tiger Rag - this is what I love about jazz - almost a hundred years on - bands are still playing Tiger Rag. I wonder if any of today's original compositions will be played a Hundred Years From Today. I doubt it but, I'll betcha, and this is a bet neither of us can lose or win because we won't be here to collect, but, a hundred years from today, somebody will be playing A Hundred Years From Today so, don't save your kisses just spread them around...
A fireworks display greeted our return to Newcastle and for some time we were encapsulated by that strange magnetism that fireworks can have for us.
The Bridges Festival and The Sage had done us proud
A fireworks display greeted our return to Newcastle and for some time we were encapsulated by that strange magnetism that fireworks can have for us.
The Bridges Festival and The Sage had done us proud
Lance.
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