Jazz Coop Xmas Party 2016 @ The Globe, Newcastle - December 22

(Review by Steve T).

The night began for me around eight and already a good crowd and good food; always a good sign.

A prior engagement diverted me to Hoochie Coochie for the first half of King Bee, rewarded with some toon fonk and a taste  of the Jelly genius. Then back to the Globe where number one son had a date with a certain drummer.

When we got back the stage was crowded for the only really seasonal song I heard all night; Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

With Mathew MacKellar’s departure imminent the stage cleared for something a bit serious, and, from the three youngest people in the building, though three of the finest teenage Jazz musicians in the region.

FDT would have benefited from his own amp or a sound-check but nobody but me seemed to mind; there's a definite improvement following his three months in the Black Country. Dan Lawrence stepped up to the mark with a five string bass, though he'd never played one before, and with no drop in standard even though performance isn't part of his course in Manchester. And Matthew, warmed up and playing to a home crowd, just keeps getting better.   

An unidentified trumpet player stuck around for Oleo but they were down to a trio for Ladybird and don't be surprised if this is a regular working band in a few years time.

Normal service was then resumed with Dave Weisser leading various sized and shaped ensembles including drums, percussion, bass, guitar, keys, at least two saxes and at least three trumpets, when Judith, who I've heard sing before but tonight was playing sax as well, suddenly produced a flute. And then someone arrived with a trombone. Add Weisser, Judith and Debra Milne singing and various ladies (and the odd man) dancing and this was a monster jam.

Earlier the Blue Jazz Sextet had done the business and, as one of the few bands I've seen at the Globe, a reminder that I haven't been there anything like often enough. I feel a New Year’s Resolution coming on.

Sixty or seventy people and only a few I recognised but no one I felt I knew well enough to get a list of the names of the musicians, though every one of them played their part.

What I really like about the Globe is that every time I go I seem to end up talking Jazz with someone I've never met before, which I love. On Thursday someone asked me to recommend Monk albums and I had to confess I've never really got him, though I haven't conceded defeat yet, but I pointed him in the direction of the eighteen-year-old bass player on the stage who happily obliged. Then Mingus came up, so no assistance needed there.

A great jam session with something for everyone: some serious Jazz, some Christmas stuff, lots of willing musicians with varying abilities, a great crowd and great food; exactly what a good party is all about.

Steve T.