Digby Fairweather (cornet &
vocals), Steve Andrews (tenor saxophone, clarinet & vocals), Roly Veitch
(guitar & vocals) & Roy Cansdale (double bass) + Iain MacAulay
(trombone)
Essex
lad Fairweather if he knew ‘The Lambeth
Walk’ Did he? Of course he did! Picture the scene…the pair of them, arms
linked, singing Cockney songs late into the night on the streets of Newcastle !
(Review by Russell)
Gosforth High Street resembled a
scene on a Christmas card - giant snow flakes, lots of them, threatening a
white-out, settling under foot. The Newcastle
suburb looked a picture - if you like that sort of thing. Trinity Church Farne Island
An added attraction was the company he was keeping
- the Swing City Trio, no less. Four amiable characters playing some tunes,
having a good time. This Can’t Be Love,
I Can’t Give You Anything But Love, Baby and I’m Confessin’ That I Love You (the latter dedicated to Ruby Braff
featured stupendous playing by Fairweather). Braff anecdotes included the
occasion when, on Tyneside, the American worked with Fairweather. After the
gig, walking back to their hotel, Braff asked
Swing That Music upped the tempo with
Steve Andrews’ knock-out clarinet work. Guitarist Roly Veitch sang ‘Tis Autumn with wonderful contributions
from Andrews (clarinet) and Fairweather. Veitch and rhythm partner bassist Roy
Cansdale stoked it up big style on Spotlight
as Andrews drew inspiration from Coleman Hawkins.
The second set was just like
the first - full of gems. Veitch sang What
a Little Moonlight Can Do and Stars
Fell on Alabama (ace trombonist Iain MacAulay joined the party), Andrews
sang She’s Funny That Way and a blues
heard MacAulay at his Teagarden-like best. Fairweather said he would happily
play all night in the company of such fine musicians but it was almost closing
time and a storming Lester Leaps In sent us on our way. Snow
storms? What snow storms?
Russell
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