Swing Manouche with Daniel John Martin @ Prohibition Bar. October 4

Mick Shoulder (guitar), Giles Strong (guitar), Paul Susans (double bass) & Daniel John Martin (violin & vocals)

(Review by Russell).

Sage Gateshead was busy, no concert performances but much workshop activity. Tutors in folk, jazz, rock, voice and other disciplines welcomed their students in myriad rooms. Rank amateurs stood their ground alongside degree level students. Across the river jazz was sure to be thriving on Pink Lane. The Jazz Café’s regular jam session would attract who knows who? See the editor’s review of the evening’s comings and goings.

Meanwhile, Gateshead’s Prohibition Bar, approaching its first anniversary (Halloween!) on Rue de Brandling, opened for business. A chalked advertising board read: Parisienne Jazz. Yes, ‘Baby Face’ Mitchell’s South Bank speakeasy sought to capture something of Paris’ Left Bank (circa 1940). In town tonight, the remarkable Daniel John Martin. Have violin, will travel, and so he does. An engagement the previous evening in Liverpool, the Paris-based Englishman arrived on Rue de Brandling to meet up once again with Swing Manouche. Gateshead, then Bishop Auckland, Hexham and on to Cumbria, four dates in five days. Bon!

Django’s Anniversary Song (circa 1950) and a liberal helping of GASbook material gave an indication that the formative years of the Hot Club canon wouldn’t dominate the two sets. Daniel John Martin is a remarkable, devil-may-care virtuoso, technically gifted with   an impish, inventive streak. Originally from Congleton, Martin linked-up once again with Mick Shoulder’s Swing Manouche. Djangologie bassist Shoulder plays guitar in the band alongside fellow six-stringer Giles Strong, with Paul Susans assuming double bass duties. Shoulder’s abilities as a guitarist are on a par with other key figures on the north east Hot Club scene (Birkett, Johnston, Harris), and as a tunesmith Martin was more than happy to include a Shoulder composition in the set list. Django did, of course, feature, J’attendrai, then Swing 42 amongst others but it was Martin’s singing that delighted the audience just as much as his virtuosity as an instrumentalist; Night and Day, It Had to be You and DJM harmonising violin and voice on There Will Never be Another You.

Martin liked Prohibition Bar. The barman (attired in speakeasy garb!) was celebrating his birthday. A chocolate cake (one candle!) later to be devoured to one side, proprietor Baby Face Mitchell held the reigns (dog lead, actually- the barman’s real life, loveable mutt) as his employee took to the floor with his partner. The couple happen to be Lindy jazz dance enthusiasts. Boy! They could dance! Swing Manouche with Daniel John Martin will be at Bishop Auckland Town Hall tonight (Wednesday). To book your ticket telephone the box office on 0300 0269 524 for a seven thirty start.

Russell.