Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Crescent Club. March 26

Fred Rowe (trumpet & vocals), Barry Soulsby (clarinet & vocals), Lawrence McBriarty (trombone), Dave Rae (banjo), Bill Colledge (bass) & Fred Thompson (drums & vocals) + Theresa Armstrong (vocals), Derek Fleck (clarinet)

(Review by Russell)

Trumpeter Fred Rowe apologised for the absence of Brian Bennett, informing the crowd that their bandleader was in Moscow negotiating with President Putin over the threatened use of  banjos in the Crimea.

When the cat’s away…these cats played, feeling Black and Blue (Fred Thompson, vocals, Barry Soulsby, clarinet). Fred Rowe sang about a Glad Rag Doll and Thompson told us: I Never Knew I Could Love Anybody Like I’m Loving You (snappy title). Back in Your Own Back Yard rattled along and hot jazz topped the menu in China Town (Dave Rae, banjo, Maitre D).

The interval found Bill Colledge telling a thousand stories of a life in jazz (note to BSH editor – Mr Colledge should be encouraged to put pen to paper), raffle prizes went elsewhere and another pint of Consett Brewery’s Steel Town went down a treat (especially at a bargain £2.70,). At the bar one of the regulars was heard saying to the barmaid: Put it on Mr Bennett’s tab. When the cat’s away…

Second set, drummer Thompson took us to the Darktown Strutters’ Ball, the frontline having a grand old time. Soulsby sang Button Up Your Overcoat, Thompson Old Rocking Chair (Soulsby, top clarinet). Derek Fleck joined the party (he too having taken advantage of Mr Bennett’s bar tab), accompanying Theresa Armstrong on Red Sails in the Sunset. The clarinets of Soulsby and Fleck took us out on The Weary Blues, Fred Rowe protesting: I’m sick and tired of this one!                    

Russell.