(Review by Russell)
Big bands are dead, long gone.
Oh, yeah? The recent Great North Big Band Jazz Festival in Sunderland would suggest
otherwise and behind the scenes here in the north east of England (in
clubs, pubs, community halls) year-round rehearsals and workshops go largely
unnoticed. A Sunday afternoon at Hoochie Coochie couldn’t possibly attract a
large crowd keen to experience the thrill of a big band up close. Oh, yeah? The
Pilgrim Street
venue in Newcastle
was busy. Bottles of Fuller’s London
Pride, a cocktail if you prefer, being supped or sipped, ahead of an
appearance by the Strictly Smokin’ Big Band. For a review of the gig read LL’s
piece. Suffice to say it was every bit as good as he said it was.
Less than one hour later,
Splinter’s monthly jam session at the Bridge Hotel would attract a contingent
of the SSBB. One hour. Time to kill, Time to dash home and still get to the
Bridge on time. Turning into the street – Chez Moi – the powerful effects of London Pride had kicked in. A car, unattended, ablaze. Surreal or what? Alert the neighbours, call
999! Several buckets of water contained the blaze until the fire fighters
arrived. Sorry chaps, must go, much more
important business to attend to, there’s a jam session at the Bridge! A
pint of Billy Mill or a pint of Amnesia? Opted for one or the other,
can’t remember which, a glance at the tv, El
Clasico nicely poised: Real 1 Barca 1.
Ascending the stairs to the
unmistakable sound of the Findens on
Secret Love (Fiona, vocals, Stuart,
tenor), musicians sat around the room, thumbing through the pad, looking for
the right chart – it could be their turn next. The Findens were working with
familiar faces – Alan Law (piano), John
Pope (bass) and drummer Eric Stutt.
Note pad and pen forgotten in the earlier emergency determined it would be
mental notes (Amnesia permitting), a
mere sketch. Make that a list.
Pick your favourites from the
following...Peter Gilligan (piano),
drummers Jeff Armstrong and Jonathan
Marriott, Paul Gowland (tenor), Sarah Travena (soprano), Mark Williams (guitar),
vocalists Julie Allan, Debra Milne, Kath
Jobes. KJ sang Autumn Leaves a
day or so after the first day of spring.
Somewhat befuddling to a London Pride amnesiac! Down in the bar, El Clasico update: Real 3 Barca 2. A pint of
something or other, a swift ascent of the stairs so as not to miss a second of
what was to come and as occasionally happens one of those ‘I was there’ moments. SSBB vocalist Lindsay Hannon put on her coat, about
to go off into the night, when, glass in hand, she was called to the stage.
Hannon encouraged SSBB tenor player Jamie
Toms to join her. Our vocalist sang as never before; saloon bar ease, from
major to minor, from the heart, heartbreak, joy. Magnificent! Perhaps not gig
of the year but without doubt, three months into the year, a highlight of 2014.
Apologies to any performer not mentioned – the absence of a note pad and the
amnesiac effects of a couple of halves were entirely responsible for, for…something
or other. Footnote: Messi did it again (a hat trick) – FT Real 3 Barca 4.
Russell.
1 comment :
Russell, I knew you could multiple-task but you have become the Roland Kirk of reviewers. Two jazz gigs back to back involving cast of thousands, live tasting of ales (both real and imaginary), running commentary on El Classico and a little voluntary fire fighting on the
side -amazing! I must remember to try a pint of Amnesia.
JC
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