Jam Session @ Jazz Café July 1

Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Paul Wight (dms); Paul Skerritt (vcl); Josh Bentham (sop); Paul Gowland (alt); Ian Forbes (dms); Ray Burns (vcl/hca/gtr); Kath Jobes (vcl) + others.

(Review by Lance).

The Tuesday Jam at The Caff is a lovely way to spend an evening in Newcastle city centre. With the house trio setting the bar at a high level, it was good to report that most of the sitters in were up to the challenge.

After Jarrett's Memories of Tomorrow and Beautiful Love, ace crooner Skerrett, aided and abetted by Josh Bentham on soprano sax stepped up and gave us Georgia on my Mind, Don't Get Around Much Any More and My Funny Valentine before Josh went it alone (w. trio) on Freddie Hubbard's Red Clay.

Dear Old Stockholm by the trio brought this portion of the evening to a close enabling glasses, cups and bottles to be recharged.

Ray Burns, the most sartorially elegant jazzman since the late George Melly, surprised me with Isn't This a Lovely Day to be Caught in the Rain? Excellent period piece vocal and chromatic harp playing. Gowland, brandishing Conn underslung alto, asked Ray what they were going to play? "More Than You Know" said Ray". Is that a reply or a tune?" quipped Paul (Gowland).

And so the night continued to unfold. Why Don't You Do Right? questioned Ray with Gilligan moving over to the upright.

Gowland did right on How High the Moon? and Autumn in New York before giving way to young Josh for Nature Boy. Earlier, Ian Forbes had taken over on drums maintaining the momentum set by Paul (Wight).

A lady whose name I didn't get sang Cry me a River before Paul (Skerritt) asked all and sundry if they'd met Miss Jones. Metro time was drawing near as Kath Jobes broke the world speed record for singing West Coast Blues then recovered with a more leisurely Good Morning Heartache.

July 22 for the next Jam. On July 8 it's a "Workshop" with Andy Champion/John Pope and the week after Schmazz @ the Jazz Café presents Troyka and Pulcinella.
Photos.

Lance.