Jazz Café Jam February 4

Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Paul Wight (dms) + Dean Stockdale (pno); Eric Stutt/Ian Forbes (dms); Don Forbes (tpt); Stuart Finden/Johnny Davis (ten); Fiona Finden (ten/vcl); Lindsay Hannon/Claire Kelly (vcl); Ray Burns (vcl/hca) etc.

(Review by Lance)

Bruce Bax looked around the crowded room and said to me "The Caff is reborn!" I knew what he meant not least because most, if not all, of the musicians on the stand had been part of the iconic building's previous incarnation. Familiar faces in the audience too - not least Bruce himself whose charismatic 1940's style trilby, strategically angled at 45º, was forever a part of the old Jazz Café landscape.

The house trio for the evening  set the mood with the opener Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most followed by a familiar sounding Bud Powell number. Peter and the two Pauls were on fire.

Next up a contingent of Budtones - Dean Stockdale maintaining the high standard of piano playing, Eric Stutt ditto drumwise and Mr and Mrs Finden brandishing Mark VI tenors with vocals from the distaff half.

Don Forbes blew trumpet on There Will Never be Another You and Come Rain or Come Shine.

Ray Burns, as ever, took the sartorial honours despite his contradictory choice of song - Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out. I've never seen anyone look less Down and Out and nor have I heard anyone sing it better 'cept maybe Bessie Smith but Bessie didn't blow harp like Ray!

Lindsay sang You'd be so Nice to Come Home to (not to me unfortunately) and My Funny Valentine. Ian Forbes dazzled on drums, a girl whose name I failed to catch sang Dream a Little Dream of me, Johnny Davis blew tenor and Claire Kelly gave us No Moon at All and 'Round Midnight.

There was more but that good old wagon the 27 bus was due...

Roll on next month.
Correction - See you in 2 weeks that's how well it went!

Photos.

Lance.