Peter Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Russ Morgan (dms) + Ray Johnson (tpt); Paul Gowland (sop); Abbie Finn (dms); Beth Roberts (alt); Ian Forbes (dms); Minnie Fraser (vcl); Kath Jobes (vcl).
(Review by Lance).
One of the things I love about jam sessions is the variety of performers who grace the hypothetical stage. The young, the old, the in-between. The high fliers and the aspirants, all have their moment of glory aided and abetted by a sympathetic rhythm section.
That rhythm section got things rolling with stellar performances of
Close Your Eyes, Whisper Not and
If You Could See me Now. All three at the top of their game with Morgan outstanding on
Whisper Not.
Paul Gowland, who opted for soprano this week, was joined by Ray Johnson for a couple of numbers one of which, Wayne Shorter's Lester Left Town, also had last week's debutante drummer, Abbie Finn, coming back for more. Outstanding! Yesterdays rounded off the set.
Gowland, needless to say, took no prisoners but Johnson met fire with fire blowing some blistering Fats Navarro style trumpet spurred on by Ms. Finn, Gilligan and Grainger.
A short break then another deb - 16-year-old Beth Roberts - fresh from playing with the Durham County Youth Big Band (in support of NYJO) the previous evening blew a spirited
Autumn Leaves followed by
Now's the Time. Another star in the making!
One star who's already made is Ian Forbes, the Grand Old Man of north-east jazz! Nothing old about his playing Ian always sounds as fresh as ever.
I'm currently into black and white photography but when Minnie took to the stage in her technicolour dream coat monochrome went out of the window!
That Old Devil Moon and
Body and Soul were given equally colourful treatment.
Back to the band for
Have You Met Mr Forbes? as the Rogers and Hart tune could have been retitled and then
Moanin'.
Time to drag myself away in the direction of the distant bus stop and, as such, missing a couple of songs from Kath Jobes. Ah well, maybe next time.
Photos.
Lance.
1 comment :
Strolling through the center of the Neuchatel of the northeast stumbled on this delicious jam session. Thank you all for a great surprise
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