Michael Lamb (MD), Pete Tanton, Tom Hill, Dick Stacey (tpts); Mark Ferris, Steve Grey, Mark Fletcher, John Flood (tmb); Steve Summers, Sue Ferris (alt); Jamie Toms, Paul Gowland (ten); Niall Armstrong (bar); Charles Harrison (pno); Pawel Jedrejewski (gtr); Michael Whent (bs); Guy Swinton (dms); James Hedley/Lindsay Hannon (vcls).
(Review by Lance).
Who in their right mind would arrange an open air gig in August! August in Newcastle? Not exactly Autumn in New York - more like Summer in Siberia. The wind howled, the audience shivered and the band blew - did they not!
22 tried and tested numbers that somehow sound different every time you hear them. Vocals by James and Lindsay and some fantastic solos made this an afternoon to remember.
To list all the highlights would take 22 pages so, in no particular order, I liked the dramatic band intro to James' relaxed vocal on It Had to be You, Lindsay's bluesy Spoonful, Sue's alto solos - more used to hearing her on tenor or baritone - Steve and Paul battling it out on Oye Como Va likewise on In The Mood just some of the delicacies served up. Jamie popped up here and there, Pete and Michael took care of the trumpet solos whilst the trombone blending that brought in James "Bobby Darin" Hedley's version of Beyond the Sea impressed a trombone player standing next to me.
The rhythm section were sound with Drummer Swinton adeptly coping with the announcements whilst juggling the music into some kind of windswept order and soloing on Skindeep. Maybe a hundred more things I could write about but the fact that the audience stayed - some danced, some drank, some did both and all applauded - summed it up.
"High voltage gig" remarked a lady of my acquaintance and I'm sure Michael Caine (top right of the photo) would have agreed.
The Quaylink journey back to town with Brenda, Joan and Julie rounded off a Super Saturday.
Catch them again (the band that is and maybe the ladies!) at the Millstone (South Gosforth) August 28, Hoochie Coochie Sept. 21 and the Black Swan Arts Centre Dec. 20.
Lance.
1 comment :
We braved the elements in typical Geordie ways - and didn't we enjoy ourselves! An ace gig ....
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