Jam Session @ The Bridge

Alan Law (pno); Jonathan Marriott (dms); Katie Trigger (bs); + Fiona Findon, Ann Alexander, Julija Jaicenaite Jolie (vcl); Paul Gowland (ten); Sarah Travena (sop); Chris Finch (pno); Simon Stephenson, Dan Stanley (gtr); Graham Archer (bs) - apologies if I've missed anyone!)
(Review by Lance).
This was the first of the Splinter Jam Sessions that I've attended - let's hope, as is rumoured, that it's not the last. The word is that, after the summer break, it will be back to booked bands.
So, if you enjoyed tonight - and the well attended upper room certainly did - savour it.
The evening began with the trio who were the lynch-pins of the whole affair playing St. Thomas. Anyone waiting to sit in knew they were in good hands.
First up to the plate was Fiona Findon who sang a hesitant Whisper Not but followed up with a cracking version of In a Sentimental Mood. Even without her tenor sax Fiona can put over a tune. Alan Law had a blast on this one that set the benchmark for the piano-men in the room!
Folkie turned jazzer Simon Stephenson gave us My Funny Valentine before exploding with Black Orpheus (or whatever name you call it by!).
Don Stanley's drink was Straight No Chaser - a neat performance - before mellowing out in a blues whose name I didn't catch.
An absolutely cracking first half - what was to come we wondered?
In my case it was a pint of Blonde Star - how prophetic was that choice?
With Chris Finch on piano, our own BSH correspondent Ann Alex, cast her journalistic hat aside for her subtly sweet vocal tiara. Bye Bye Blackbird and Secret Love were her chosen vehicles - she did us proud but, waiting in the wings, was Julija Jaicenaite Jolie....
Julija kicked ass! The blonde bombshell's  Angel Eyes was  absolutely amazing and with the band rocking their sox off it lifted the game to an astronomical level. Alright, OK, You Win and There Will Never be Another You brought the evening to a close and what an evening it had been. Special mention to the rhythm section and to Gowland and Travena who simply played as good as anyone I've ever heard in The Bridge at 9:55 pm on a Sunday night in July this year - or in any other month of any other year!
A JJJ gig would be good.for next season.
Photos.
Lance.