A Strictly Combustible Evening. March 23

(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.