Jazz Café Jam Session April 1.

Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Paul Wight (dms) + Stuart Finden (ten); Fiona Finden (ten/vcl); Ian Forbes (dms); Ray Truscott (bs gtr).

(Review by Lance/Photos by Mike Tilley).

The ever enterprising Peter Gilligan, after removing the front of the piano and, in the process, taking the music stand with it, attached the lead sheet of In Walked Bud to the lid of the upright with a strip of  Gaffa tape. Problem solved!

In Walked Bud was the opener which set the scene for a lively evening's jamming. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams, Horace Silver's Lonely Woman, an original by Gilligan in 3/4 time - Mr. 88's creative abilities aren't restricted to improvising music stands - nor indeed are those of the two Pauls with drummer Paul putting the boot in and bassist Paul the soft shoe!

Enter les deux Findens.

All the Things You Are, Sugar, a Hank Mobley tune I recognised but couldn't put a name to (was it Dig This? - No, This I Dig of You) and In a Sentimental Mood with a vocal by Fiona.

The arrival of Ian Forbes gave Wight a break and, after re-arranging the kit, it was Jim Hall's Waltz New. No More Blues and Silver's St. Vitus Dance (I think) followed.

"Forbesy" was in fine form his playing never without a sense of humour!

Ray Truscott added his six string bass guitar to the mix giving respite to the recently released from hospital Grainger. I'll Remember April - not difficult seeing as how the month had just begun! Stu returned for St. Thomas and 'Round Midnight. Paul Wight was back at the kit selecting a suitable pair of sticks/brushes for the latter opus. I swear a drumming centipede would have less sticks in his bag than Wight. Nevertheless, Paul used the chosen pair effectively.

Have You Met Miss Jones and Pent Up House rounded off the evening for me and it had been worth the trip through mist and fog.

Lance.