Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party @ Village Hotel nr. Shiremoor. Day 3 Afternoon.Nov. 3.

(Review by Lance).
Another day of Classic Jazz that fully lived up to expectations. I just caught the last quarter of an hour of Hip Chicks featuring those two hippest of chicks - Daryl Sherman and Cécile McLorin Salvant.

Daryl sang I'll Never Say 'never again' again and More Than You Know (with verse) then Cécile gave us There's a Lull in my Life with Daryl on piano before both girls took it out duetting on I'm Beginning to See the Light.

Personnel for this and other Sunday gigs see previous post.

I missed Banjo Crackerjacks but returned to the auditorium for The Dark Angel of the Violin which was a tribute to Eddie South and Stuff Smith featuring the north-east's own dark angel of the violin - Emma Fisk (pictured with Spats Langham sans spats, Richard Pite , drums, Jean-Francoise Bonnel, sax and Henry Lemaire on bass.)

This was an eye-opener! I've heard Emma many times with Djangologie and always enjoyed her playing albeit perhaps maybe taking it for granted - never again!

As she did on Friday with Daryl, Emma once again astounded me with her exciting solos except this afternoon she moved up a gear! Not only did she swing like the proverbial but she did it whilst simulating Stuff Smith and Eddie South, no easy task! With Jeff Barnhart on piano (and vocal on You's a Viper) Emma gave a demonstration of jazz fiddle that, for me, was a festival highlight - perhaps the festival highlight!. In particular, the final number Stuff Smith's Skip It made me glad I hadn't skipped this one! Oh yes and she can front a band! Emma's introductions were both witty and informative.

Next up was some Vintage Eddie Condon and the Chicagoans a program of early Condon led by Andy Schumm on trumpet, cornet and comb and paper. The latter "instrument" was as effective as it had been originally when Red McKenzie did it with the Mound City Blue Blowers 86 years ago!

Only query I have is as to why today's band used both a double bass player and a sousaphone player?

The afternoon session concluded with The Count Steps In - Basie 1936/37.

From the opening Jive at Five it became obvious we were in for a big band treat. This was the earthy, loosely swinging early band packed with soloists as was, indeed, today's outfit. Matthias Seuffert was Lester and he duly Leapt In. Jean-Francois Bonnel was Blue and Sentimental, this latter number also had a guitar chorus by Roly Veitch something Freddie Greene never achieved! More local interest with Gavin Lee on alto and also baritone on Pound Cake.
The final number - One O'Clock Jump - really did jump with solos all round and a few dancers too!
Back to the CD Stall where I was on duty. I should mention that a lot of the CDs that were for sale were from the late Mike Durham's personal collection the proceeds of which went to the Marie Curie Cancer Care fund. There were also a lot of his books sold for the same cause. I picked up Hampton Hawes' Raise Up Offa Me. And William Claxton's magnificent photographic collection - Jazz Seen.
Lance.