(Review
by Russell/photos courtesy of Mike Tilley)
Gone midnight,
exit Sage Gateshead, over the Swing Bridge, wandering through Dante’s Inferno
(aka the Quayside/Central Station), heels, legs, swaying revellers,
side-stepping a freshly deposited curry (Sunday morning’s pigeons’ breakfast)
and on to the Jazz Café. A good night it was with Sue Ferris and Dean Stockdale
reported Kay. ‘Hello Mike, is there a good crowd in upstairs?’ ‘Yes, a good
few’ the reply. A bottle of Grainger Ale, up the stairs we go.
The jam session
was in full swing. And it was swinging. Hey! That’s Francesco on piano, Russ
Morgan at the kit, the uber-cool Paul Susans laying it down and Mr Mark
Williams perched on a stool to one side. Out front, newcomer Alice Grace sang.
Word gets around. The vocalist made an impression at Friday night’s jam session
at the Globe and here she was again. More sitters-in than one could remember
without a hastily scribbled list…the long-time-no-see Sarah Travena turned-up
to play soprano, Paul Gowland, a bottle of his favourite Banana Beer at hand, on alto. Talk about ‘long-time-no-see’, Ben
Gilbert joined in, Yuya Honami was in the house, Pete Gilligan was around
somewhere and house band drummer Tim Johnston was taking five. Caff regulars
(some worse for wear), a few jazz heads, one or two new faces, don’t these
people have homes to go to?
All the Things You Are, In a Sentimental Mood (Gowland
terrific), then a real treat. Stu the Rapper did his thing on The Chicken (Yuya on drums, Susans
funkin’, Gowland on the money). Oh, yes. Lindsay was in town. Gilligan back at
the keys, he called one last number. Brief discussion, they settled on Straight No Chaser.
In no particular
order (possibly omitting a name or two, apologies if that is the case), the
cast list reads as follows: Peter Gilligan (piano), Paul Susans (double bass & bass), Tim
Johnston (drums), Mark Williams (guitar), Paul Gowland (alto), Sarah Travena
(soprano), Francesco Falcioni (piano), Ben Gilbert (piano), Russ Morgan
(drums), Yuya Honami (drums), Stu the Rapper, Lindsay Hannon (vocals) &
Alice Grace (vocals)
Russell.
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