Steve Andrews (ten/clt/vcl/mc); Jimmy McBriarty (alt/clt/vcl); Gavin Lee (ten/clt); Alan Marshall (clt/ten); Graham Hardy, Alistair Lord (tpt); Don Fairley (tmb); Ed Cross (vln); Neville Hartley (pno); Phil Rutherford (sousa); Keith Steephen (bjo/gtr) Nick Ward (dms); Caroline Irwin (vcl); Keith Nichols (pno).
(Review by Lance )
The first time I'd been back to Caedmon Hall since the changes. I can't detail the exact changes apart from the more spacious bar area. However, this sell-out event almost never got off the ground - a major disaster occurred!
They'd ran out of raffle tickets! Never mind that Steve Andrews had lost his notes - he can busk anything - but with the punters pouring in and no rafflers to sell to them - disaster If NCRO had been a Limited Company (some unkind people say they are anyway) they'd drop out of the FTSE 1,000,000!
Fortunately, Phil and Dave managed to find a back street raffle ticket seller and the world was saved from global meltdown.
Which was a relief because, without the NCRO's turn of the year concert, even Newcastle's win over Chelsea would pale into insignificance.
Circumstances decreed that I only stayed for the first set but what a cracking set it was!
How many bands do you know that open up with My Sweet Tooth Says I Want to But my Wisdom Tooth Says No? I bet you could could count them on your...well never mind... suffice to say this Fletcher Henderson number got the show well and truly on the road with vocal by Jimmy Mac and a few hot choruses here and there.
This led to Junkman Rag, amusingly, and inventively, introduced by Steve Andrews. Neville gave his fingers a work out on this one.
At last! Caroline, respondent in shiny, satiny, gown slunk evocatively down to the stand and sang Guilty. This is a great song recorded by Ruth Etting, Al Bowlly, Ella, Whiting's daughter Margaret and many others. Caroline slotted in nicely among her peers.
Don't Be Like That, a cute, coy number preceded the band's take on Black and Tan Fantary - Graham and Don plungering.
Keith Nichols took over the piano stool and, with fellow guest Nick Ward, - the world's tallest drummer - . sang Mister Jelly-Lord and fingerbusted The Terror - an arrangement that featured the 3 saxes on clarinet.
Ed Cross and Keith Stephen had a duo blast on Venuti/Lang's Wildcat, Nagasaki had Steve, singing, clarineting and tenor saxophoning as well as announcing.
Caroline sang Let's Do It - every red-blooded man in the room was queuing to take up the offer.
Jimmy Mac finished the set by singing Gonna Get a Girl. A great show and I'm only sorry I didn't catch the second set which Dave Kerr assured me would be even better!
Lance.
PS: The photo shows Keith and Caroline prior to the concert - perhaps writing a new song - Texting is better than words!
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