Mick
Shoulder (contrabasse), Emma Fisk (violon), James Birkett (guitare) & Giles
Strong (guitare rythmique)
(Review by M. Russell/Photo by Mlle. Kath J.)
Saturday evening in a little café
in Newcastle sur Seine.
Friends, couples, lovers engaged in low level, if not intimate, conversation. A
bottle of Rivet Catcher (Jarrow sur Seine),
the offer of a flower vase politely declined in favour of a ‘traditional’ half
glass. Perhaps the hot topic was the result of the day’s 'grand' match at St
James’, given the outcome perhaps not. Intermittent downpours dampened the
enthusiasm for ‘le punch-up’, drowning of sorrows the priority. Earlier in the
day your reviewer could be found in a nameless Tyneside hostelry watching ‘Le Debacle’.
The (illegal) overseas television coverage courtesy of Canal Plus, Les Mags’
French Contingent would surely do ‘le business’. Non!
To ‘le jazz’. Djangologie, the
north east of England’s
ambassadors of all things Django, set up and tuned up quietly (an indication
that there is a good band in the house). Monsieur M.Shoulder arranged for Dinah to arrive right on time. From the
first chords struck by guitar masters James Birkett and Giles Strong we were in
Hot Club paradise. Douce Ambience, Coquette, was there anything finer? How
about Mademoiselle Fisk? Emma, the birthday girl (Jan 31), extended
celebrations to include this Jazz Café engagement. The establishment benefitted
from the arrival of a large party out on the town celebrating a birthday amongst
their number. The atmosphere all the more authentique with the bon viveurs
dressed in ‘20s fashions. The gentlemen, suited in spats and hats, the ladies
in flapper finery with hairstyles to match! The chatterbox-o-meter reached new
heights – cocktails all round – but no matter, the place was buzzing. Djangologie
responded with Artillerie Lourdes
(one nil to the band). Stompin’ at Decca
closed out the set (2-0 to the band). Stupendous playing, tumultuous applause.
The quartet took a bow and this just the interval! KJ and friend departed for
some Salsa Café jazz just as P and D arrived at a stompin’ good time. Mick
Shoulder writes for the band and such is the quality of the writing one could
be forgiven for confusing a Django number with a Shoulder composition. Song for Izumi and the baroque waltz Beautiful Till 3 (a tale of unrequited love) maintained the standard in the second
set. The Sheik of Araby, taken at whirling dervish tempo,
produced near impossible feats of musicianship form the quartet; Shoulder and
Strong immense, Fisk and Birkett bagging the eye-catching solos. Bandleader
Shoulder announced the final number – Les
Yeux Noir – suggesting there could be an encore. More astounding playing.
Cries of ‘Encore! Encore!’. Encore won. Magnifique!
Russell.
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