Maureen Hall (vocals), Gavin Lee (soprano
saxophone), Don Fairley (trombone), Roy Gibson (keyboards), Jim McKeown (drums)
+ Chris Hodgkins (trumpet), Teresa Armstrong (vocals) & Joan Armstrong
(vocals)
(Review by Russell)
Vocalist
Maureen Hall has maintained a Friday lunchtime session for several years down at
the coast. The Black Horse in Monkseaton (currently to let to an enterprising
publican) is one of those venues where the management let the musicians get on
with it.
Hall has an enviable frontline working with her; veteran trombonist
Don Fairley and Shotton Colliery reeds’ virtuoso Gavin Lee. As ever, one or two
sitters-in were hoping to get the call and a national ‘name’ from the jazz
world turned up looking to have a blow. Rendezvous Jazz’ Dixie-plus repertoire
entertained the regulars and the pool sharks in the adjoining bar didn’t
seem to mind the background music as they knocked the ball around the table. When
You and I Were Young, Maggie kicked-off and Hall sang Ace in
the Hole with the all-seated frontline. Come to think about it, the whole
band adopted a sedentary position as is
the tradition at Preservation Hall (Maureen Hall has had the great honour of singing
at the tourists’ home of N’Awlins jazz). Black and Blue was
just so, followed by a bout of hilarity as Blue Skies was
announced as ‘tempting providence’ with the hard-of- hearing Roy Gibson
thinking the ‘provi’ was being discussed!
Drummer Jim
McKeown brushed effectively on There Will Never Be Another You and
a favourite of Hall’s – Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans – found
favour with the audience. Second set (raffle prizes proved
elusive), bandleader Hall welcomed trumpeter Chris Hodgkins to the stand
(carpet) to play a few tunes. The former supremo of Jazz Services proved his
worth on Struttin’ With Some Barbecue.
Russell.
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