GIJF: Day Three - Davina & the Vagabonds

Davina Sowers (vcl/pno/uke); Dan Eikmeier (tpt/vcl); Ben Link (tmb/vcl); Greg Beyers (bs); Connor McRae Hammergren (dms).

(Review by Lance).

After the afternoon concert by The Cookers I thought nothing could match that session.

I was wrong!

Enter Davina and her Vagabonds.

Tiers two and three were full and the audience seated. However, at sea level it was standing room only to make space for those inclined to dance of which there were many.

The dress code was Retro so I blended in without trying - my old demob suit never lets me down on these occasions.

I'd never heard this band prior to tonight although I'd heard glowing reports of their sensational appearance at last year's Summertyne Americana Festival so it was with eager anticipation that I listened to Sage Gateshead's Performance Program Director Ros Rigby say she wanted this year's festival to end with a party.

The lady got her wish!

I Found a New Baby lit the blue touchpaper and we were off! Trumpet flying big round tone. He sings, Davina sings, plays piano, drums pound, bass slaps and trombone slides. I'm convinced I've gone to heaven and this is only the first number! Black Cloud - trombone featured - Bourbon St. Parade, trumpet quite amazing, Ain't That a Shame with barrelhouse piano and vocal from Davina

Drummer takes the vocal on Louisiana Fairy Tale, everyone sings on Shake That Thing and every one in the audience shakes a thing or two. Davina leaves the piano and strums a ukelele.

After a funereal start to St. James Infirmary it gets cranked up to the fastest ever version of that mournful song.

And so it went on, jazz and soul and rock 'n roll - and a lot more besides including the Lovin' Spoonful's What a Day for a Daydream. The memories that song brings back for me - the saying goes that if you can remember the sixties you weren't there! well I remembered it well enough to whistle along at the end. A classic re-immortalized!.

You wanted a party Ros? You certainly got one!

You want more?

Well tune into Jools Holland tomorrow night (April 14) on BBC2 at 10pm and Friday at 11.35 pm.

Lance.