Maureen Hall (vocals), Jim McBriarty (clarinet &
vocals), Don Fairley (trombone), Roy Gibson (keyboards) & George Davidson
(drums & vocals)
(Review by Russell)
If it’s Friday it must be Rendezvous Jazz. The Piper
(closed and reborn as the Sandpiper), the Porthole (closed, with a change of
use to an architectural practice), then there was the Black Horse in Monkseaton.
Maureen Hall and the boys wasted no time in moving a few doors down Front
Street to the Monkseaton Arms. Next Friday…
Next Friday, joking aside, Rendezvous Jazz will be at the Monkseaton Arms! Building
an audience is one thing, taking it with you is another thing entirely. Maureen
Hall’s fans are a loyal lot and the Monkseaton Arms has seen an upturn in its
Friday lunchtime trade. All seats taken, beer flowing, non-stop food orders,
the publican can’t be anything other than delighted. Four hand pumps, Deuchar’s
IPA and Black Sheep the favoured brews, a high stool vacant, the band sounded
good. Vocal duties were shared between Hall, clarinet ace Jim McBriarty and the
singing drummer George Davidson. Vaudevillian McBriarty sang to the sweeties (Sleepy Time Gal) and played flawlessly
on clarinet. The Sheik of Araby, then
Hall told us about a Big Butter and Egg
Man. Having Don Fairley in the frontline is a guarantee of quality, having pianist
Roy Gibson on the stand is a recipe for hilarity and fine roundabout playing
(bass parts included). Maureen Hall’s Friday band is well worth hearing. In the
temporary absence of Gavin Lee, dep McBriarty maintained the standard. Down the
years Maureen Hall has been fortunate in being able to call upon a number of
fine clarinet players. One former long serving member of the band, Barry
Soulsby, died on Wednesday. Hall paid tribute to the man. Your reviewer knew him
as a fine swinging jazz musician. When singing a song he did so with an impish
sense of humour. Always one to say ‘hello’, always happy to have a chat, Barry
Soulsby will be missed.
Russell.
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