Mark Williams, Bradley Johnston (gtr); Paul Grainger (bs); Paul Wight (dms). + Damien Cook (ten); Graham Justin (tpt); Jordan Alonzo (alt); Chris Tate (pno); John Pope (bs); Ray Truscott (bs gtr); Yuha Honami, Matthew MacKellar, Rob Bates (dms); Vocalists - nil!
(Review by Lance).
Even in the absence of piano supremo Gilligan this was a jumping jam - Hartley's couldn't have done better!
Mark Williams set the ball rolling before fellow guitarist Johnston joined him. Williams, who'd recently done 15 rounds with Steve Glendinning found a worthy opponent in young Bradley who's spent much time sparring with James Birkett. The two guitarists went for it on Things Ain't What they Used to be. Solos all round then the inevitable slugfest of fours as they traded, counter-punched and took it to the bell for a split decision in favour of ?
Chris Tate, a young man from Portsmouth, played Lady Be Good - he played it good and stayed on for most of the evening. Young Matthew once again reneged on his homework to sit in on drums - no easy task following Mr Wight - but, as ever, the boy also did good. Veteran 6 stringer Truscott replaced Grainger in the engine room for Miss Jones and Wave. Another young man - Jordan Alonzo (Newcastle Uni Jazz Orch) - stepped up along with Yuha, the rising star from the land of the rising sun, now behind the kit.
Was it Anthropology or Scrapple? Can't remember now but what's in a name?
In a Mellow Tone (Ab) could have been mellower but Coltrane's Impressions hit the jackpot as did My Favourite Things. I was losing track of the comings and goings but John Pope was on bass and Rob Bates on drums, Tate retired to Portsmouth (let's hope he returns) and Mark was back for No More Blues and Chill Out a smooth Basie-like number that had some gorgeous velvety alto.
It couldn't get any better than this - oh yes it could!
I'd heard rave reports about the guys from the Theatre Royal Panto who blew the roof off The Globe a couple of weeks back - well two of them did the same here and this was from the ground floor!
Damien Cook had a Webster/Gonsalves blast on Cottontail ably assisted by Jordan who hung on in there without backpedalling. 8s and 4s - that were sometimes 7s and 5s - brought the number to a triumphant, not too chaotic, conclusion.
It couldn't get any better than this - oh yes it could!
Next up, one Graham Justin (or was it Justin Graham?) Another one of the pantomime pitmen, who claimed he could only play in the key of Bb so, naturally, the tune called was C Jam Blues!
Suddenly, all other keys were made redundant as he soared off over the rainbow to a land where only the chosen few are allowed in - Cat Anderson and Maynard Ferguson being two of the more prominent inhabitants.
This must be some pantomime!
Lance.
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