Pink Lane Jazz Co-op Launch @ Globe Hotel May 9

I don't know if all of the 200 shareholders were present but, at times, it certainly seemed like it! Pink Champagne and a buffet spread greeted the arrivals as did a form "to be filled in before you leave". I'd have preferred to have taken the form home and reflected upon the questions rather make than make rash statements and promises that even now have changed in the cold light of a pink champagneless morning. Nevertheless, it was good to have a tour of the building which included a perilous descent of the fire escape. In the meantime, John Rowland (tenor); Stuart Finden (guitar!); Ray Truscott (bass guitar) and Peter Ninnim (drums). were doing some nice things to In a Mellow Tone, Bright Mississippi and other numbers.

Dave Parker gave a welcoming speech and his Co-chair mini-skirted Minnie Frazer (which came first the name or the skirt? - I'll probably become the first shareholder to be expelled for a sexist remark but, in my defence, She wears it so well it would be churlish not to comment!)

The building I think does have much potential and it is to be hoped the Co-op can help to expand jazz in the area and, at the same time, work with other jazz organisations to increase the music's profile and aim to create a spin off so that all "jazz joints" benefit.

Pass me my pipe and my poppies and another glass of Pink Champagne!

More music, Stu had moved from guitar to tenor and Keith Barrett was now on guitar. Dave Parker on bass and Michael Howard on drums. Fiona sang Secret Love and I Fall in Love Too Easily this was a pretty damn good starter but there was still much to be done away from the spotlights. In the short term, the decorating of the upstairs area, in the long term - piano?

Back to the stage. Jen Errington, fresh from her recent Salsa gig, sang East of the Sun and told the room that she Only Had Eyes For You (lucky you). Debra Milne sang Four and I headed home with Debs' dulcet tones drowning out the roar of the engine of  the 27 bus. 

Talking about singers, I was honoured to spend part of the evening in the company of Germaine Stanger - arguably, one of the north east's best ever jazz singers. 

Lance