Jazz Café Jam Session - January 19.

(Review by Lance).

Once again the faithful turned out in their hordes for the Jazz Café Jam Session. The house trio set the ball rolling in 3/4 time - didn't recognise the tune although it did sound vaguely familiar. Spring Can Really Hang You up the Most, Scarborough Fair and More Than You Know followed before the first re-shuffle.

Stu Finden - the best bass playing saxophonist I know - took over from Grainger and Mrs Finden sang Bernie's Tune and Lester Leaps In before leaping out.

Nick Gould came down from Edinburgh hoping for warmer weather - as if! However, it didn't effect his tenor playing - straight down the middle renditions of  On Green Dolphin St., Out of Nowhere and My Foolish Heart - good swinging stuff.

Now a big, time taking, shuffle. A mix of young and old faces. Liu He, a Chinese student (I guess), sang The Nearness of You and Blue Moon with backing and good solos from Chris Jones on guitar and James Robson on bass. The quartet was rounded off by veteran drummer (although not the oldest drummer in the room) Eric Stutt. Look forward to hearing them again.

Gilligan returned for There Will Never be Another You and All Blues, the latter featuring Robson. Paul Wilson took over on piano for Blue Bossa, joined surreptitiously by Paul Gowland blowing tenor this week. Autumn Leaves rounded off this portion of evening in slightly confusing fashion as sometimes happens at jams. 

Gilligan and Grainger returned as did Ian Forbes who was the oldest drummer in the room if not the world! Nothing senile about his playing. Watch What Happens the tune.

Gowland came back aboard for In a Sentimental Mood then Gould joined him for a two tenor front line - the Jazz Couriers ride again!.

I think the tune may have been Shearing's Conception but I could be wrong - I often am!

What's in a name anyway? This was classic - two top tenors, contrasting styles but complementary.

 to each other. Ace rhythm section - Shangri-la. Unfortunately, with the Central Metro closing at 8pm and the 27 bus not stopping at Shangri-la I had to leave before the great amen.

Quite a session!

Lance.

Photos.
Pete Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Russ Morgan (dms) + Fiona Finden (vcl); Stu Finden (bs); Nick Gould (ten); Liu He (vcl); James Robson (bs); Chris Jones (gtr); Eric Stutt (dms); Paul Wilson (pno); Paul Gowland (ten); Ian Forbes (dms).