Joel Byrne-McCullough (guitar), Paul Grainger (double bass) & Rob Walker (drums) + John Wilson (guitar), John Pope (double bass), Ray Johnson (trumpet), Joel Brown (piano), George Sykes (tenor saxophone), Hazem Mohammad (drums), David Gray (trombone) & Ian Forbes (drums)
(Review by Russell)
Days after November 5th this Jazz Café jam session produced fewer fireworks than usual. Perhaps the lack of horn players had something to do with it. Trumpeter Ray Johnson led the frontline on his own for quite a while until reinforcements arrived in the form of first-timer George Sykes, tenor, and the all-action David Gray, trombone. Young Joel Brown waited his turn, and veteran modernist Ian Forbes hung around long enough to take a spell behind the traps.
Respected guitar tutor John Wilson made an all-too-rare appearance sitting alongside fellow guitar wiz Joel Byrne-McCullough making his long overdue debut leading the Pink Lane
All the Things You Are (what a tune!), followed by student George Sykes making his debut on Pink Lane playing old school tenor on There Will Never be Another You and with him fellow student, the returning Hazem Mohammad on drums. Ray Johnson led the line with some purposeful playing on Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise and by this time sixth former Joel Brown had squeezed behind the seated Byrne-McCullough to play some Monkish piano at the upright. Stolen Moments wobbled a little bit here and there. A masterful take on Oliver Nelson’s tune at a jam session would take some doing!
David Gray had a blast on A Train and Joel Brown’s growing confidence mixing it with experienced musicians was evident in his intro to Misty. As closing time approached David Gray launched into Straight No Chaser eliciting the cry F****** hell! from someone on the stand. Things were hotting up with minutes to go! ’Til next time, that’s Tuesday 21 November, eight o’clock to be sure of a seat.
Russell
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