Jam Session @ The Jazz Café or Drummers Anonymous

Peter Gilligan (pno); John Pope (bs/bs gtr); Paul Wight (dms): Bradley Johnston (gtr) + David Gray (tmb/tpt); Dave Richardson (dms); Matthew MacKellar (dms); Russ Morgan (dms).

(Review by Lance/photo by Mike Tilley to follow).

They were filming in the Jazz Café tonight but, fortunately, the camera team were quite unobtrusive so it didn't interfere with the music.

The quartet, Bradley seems to be an integral part of it these days, were on the money from the off hitting pay dirt with Billie's Bounce, Wave, Alice in Wonderland, There Will Never Be Another You (Gilligan played a blinder on this one!) and Yardbird Suite. All four musicians at the top of their game with John Pope, in the absence of Paul Grainger, slotting easily into the role of Mr Bassman.

Maybe there was a drummer's convention in town but it seemed as though every time I glanced towards the playing area there was a different stickman at the kit.

First up was Dave Richardson from, I'm told, Richmond (Yorks) who booted Scrapple From the Apple along and bossa novaed How Insensitive.

David Gray played some lusty trombone on Caravan and trumpet on In a Mellow Tone. 16 year old Matthew MacKellar was now on drums playing with a maturity that belied his years. This young man is going places (to school the next day being one of them!)

Ornithology played at speed on trombone takes some JJ Johnson-like ability and it is to young Gray's credit that he got round the course without mishap. Russ Morgan was now on the drumstool - no, not the bandleader of So Tired fame, but an ace drummer who has worked with many of the top  names in British jazz and is currently based locally. Impressed.

Gray, Pope (on bass guitar) and Wight had an impromptu go at Watermelon Man - Johnston having left to catch the last train to Clarksville or wherever - before the final (for me) number - Seven Steps to "Hebburn" as Gilligan whimsically titled it.

It was seven wet steps for me as it was now raining but I didn't care - it had been a good night.

Lance.

PS: So many drummers even Ian Forbes didn't get to play!