2012 Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party - Day One Friday October 26.

As I wasn't at the Classic Jazz Party yesterday I can but give you a run-down on the concerts that took place.

In fact if you look at the line-ups you'll realise it speaks for itself! Better still - go to Jazz Lives.

Lance.

12 noon – 1.00pm: From Rags to Raggin’ The Scale                         

Keith Nichols is joined by Martin Wheatley (banjo/guitar), Emma Fisk (violin), Norman Field (reeds) and Frans Sjöström (bass sax) in a programme of piano ragtime and early “chamber jazz” to open the Party

1.00-2.00pm: Really The Blues                                   

Switzerland’s Thomas Winteler recalls the great reed duets made with various frontline partners by the titanic Sidney Bechet. With Stéphane Gillot and Matthias Seuffert (reeds), Martin Seck (piano), Henry Lemaire (banjo & guitar), Manu Hagmann (bass) and Richard Pite (drums)           

2.00-2.30pm: Blue Guitars          

Spats Langham and Martin Wheatley recreate the phenomenal duet recordings of Lonnie Johnson and Eddie Lang, the latter playing under the pseudonym “Blind Willie Dunn” as a sop to the prejudice against “mixed” sessions prevalent at that time

2.30-3.00pm: Too Sweet For Words                        

Pianist Lovie Austin was queen of the Chicago South Side jazz scene in the twenties. Her recordings with her Blues Serenaders are recalled by René Hagmann (cornet), Thomas Winteler (clarinet & soprano), Jens Lindgren (trombone), Martin Litton (piano), Roly Veitch (banjo) and Josh Duffee (drums & washboard)

3.00-4.00pm: Whoopee Stomp 

The Whoopee Makers recorded many sides in 1928/29. Andy Schumm leads this set in memory of Jimmy McPartland, with Alistair Allan (trombone), Michael McQuaid & Norman Field (reeds), Keith Nichols (piano), Spats Langham (banjo/ guitar), Frans Sjöström (bass sax), Phil Rutherford (sousa) and Richard Pite (drums)

4.00-5.00pm: Oh! Mister Jelly!  

Martin Litton leads his Red Hot Peppers in a programme of the music of the legendary Jelly Roll Morton: with Martin are Enrico Tomasso (trumpet), Kristoffer Kompen (trombone), Matthias Seuffert and Michael McQuaid (reeds), Martin Wheatley (banjo & guitar), Malcolm Sked bass & sousa) and Nick Ward (drums)

DINNER INTERVAL

7.30-8.30pm: Fifty Hot Choruses              

In 1927, Louis Armstrong recorded 50 Hot Choruses for trumpet. Bent Persson puts these gems into  complete tunes, with Jens Lindgren (trombone), Thomas Winteler, René Hagmann & Jean-François Bonnel (reeds), Martin Seck (piano), Jean-Pierre Dubois (banjo), Frans Sjöström (bass sax) and Josh Duffee (drums)

8.30-9.00pm: The Hottest Man In Town                

Spats Langham, ukulele and vocal, pays homage to one of his heroes, the eccentric singer Cliff Edwards (also known as Ukulele Ike). With Norman Field (reeds), Keith Nichols (piano) and Frans Sjöström (bass sax)

9.00pm-9.30pm  Come On Over To My Place, Baby                         

Cécile McLorin Salvant sings songs by Julia Lee, a fine blues singer/pianist/songwriter from the 1940s; backing by  Rico Tomasso (trumpet), Kristoffer Kompen (trombone), Matthias Seuffert & Jean-François  Bonnel (reeds), Martin Litton (piano), Roly Veitch (guitar), Manu Hagmann (bass), Richard Pite (drums)

9.30-10.00pm: Goin’ Hunting                    

South Side pianist/composer Jimmy Bertrand’s sidesmen included Louis, Johnny Dodds and Punch Miller. Bent Persson (trumpet), Thomas Winteler (clarinet), Keith Nichols (piano) and Nick Ward (washboard) play a selection  of his recordings for you

10.00-10.30pm: Sing Me A Torch Song

Cecile McLorin Salvant and Spats Langham sing songs of lost love, unrequited love and general wistfulness, with sentimental accompaniment from Duke Heitger (trumpet), Alstair Allan (trombone), Norman Field (reeds), Emma Fisk (violin), Martin Litton (piano),  Henry Lemaire (bass) and Richard Pite (drums)

10.30-11.30pm: That Syncopated Melody Man                 

A tribute to singer Red McKenzie, with Andy Schumm (blue-blowing), Mike Durham (trumpet), Jens Lindgren (trombone), Norman Field &  Jean-François Bonnel (reeds) Martin Seck (piano), Spats Langham (banjo & guitar), Frans Sjöström (bass sax), Malcolm Sked (bass), Emma Fisk (violin), Josh Duffee (drums)

11.30pm-12.30am (in the Victory Pub):  The Blue Rhythmakers 

A rare reunion session by a band that first saw light of day on a Stomp Off recording in 2001: Bent Persson, Matthias Seuffert, Kristoffer Kompen, Keith Nichols, Martin Wheatley, Frans Sjöström and Nick Ward star in our first late-night session (followed by open Jam Session from 12.30am to whenever they close the bar…..)