Jazz Café Jam Session - May 3.

Pete Gilligan (keys); Paul Grainger (bs); Russ Morgan (dms) + Paul Gowland (alt); Omid Ramak (dms); Jordan Alfonso (alt); Charlie Philp (gtr); Colm Rooney (pno); Dimitore? (dms); Ian Forbes (dms); Minnie Fraser (vcl).

(Review by Lance).
It must be five years or so since Omid Ramak and Colm Rooney last showed up at the Jazz Café. In the meantime, both had added considerable facial hair to the point that I failed to initially recognise either. Ramak, preparatory to taking the Queen's Shilling (enlisting), has an almost Machiavellian appearance whilst Rooney could have passed as a younger version of the Venerable Crombie.

Colm came through the ranks of Rocket Science, Jambone and SSBB before moving on to pastures new and Omid, during his tenure in Newcastle, made several attempts to set up jazz venues in and around town before he too moved south. Good to see them back albeit probably only on an ephemeral basis.

The jam wasn't as crowded as normal although there was enough in to retain the usual ambience.

As ever, the house trio got things rolling with Gilligan operating a keyboard that seemed to have as many controls as a DC10. Fortunately, they were used sensibly and sparingly and his solo on Make Someone Happy certainly made the listeners happy. Just Friends had some well-integrated 4s twixt piano and drums with Morgan's brushwork exquisite.

Paul Gowland took centre stage for I Hear a Rhapsody and Omid occupied the drum stool. Rather than the seemingly obligatory round of 4s we had 8s which, to my mind, makes more sense.

Once in a While was balladic perfection with Gowland throwing in a few Parker licks along with a lot of his own. Nice...

A change around saw Alfonso on alto, Charlie Philp on guitar, Colm on piano and Dimitore on drums.

Autumn Leaves and Now's the Time were safely negotiated before Ian Forbes added a lighter touch to All of Me and that good old jam session favourite - All the Things You Are. On Green Dolphin St with Colm, Omid, Philp, Gowland and Grainger (a tower of strength all evening with no bass players to give him a spell) led to Minnie Fraser combining with two-thirds of her Moochers (Gilligan and Grainger) for Stardust and Fascinating Rhythm, both complete with verse. Fascinating as it was, I had to head across town for the number 27 which waits for no one and tonight was no exception. Still it was worth the taxi fare to have such an enjoyable evening.

Photos.

Lance.