Tees Valley Jazzmen @ No.1 Market Place, Bishop Auckland - Dec 28

Gavin Lee (soprano sax), Don Fairley (trombone), Keith Belton (piano & vocals), Gavin Belton (banjo), Tom Derbyshire (double bass) & Mike Humble (drums) + Alf Langthorne (piano), Brian Wilkins (banjo), Kate Bulman (vocals) & Jimmy Robinson (vocals)

(Review by Russell).

Lunchtime, last Thursday of the month, the Tees Valley Jazzmen set up in the window of No.1 Market Place in Bishop Auckland to play some Dixieland tunes. Part coffee shop, part bar, its close proximity to Auckland Castle (presently closed for major redevelopment works), the Town Hall (closed until January!) and the Stanley Jefferson (a Wetherspoon's public house named in honour of Stan Laurel - the great man went to school nearby), attracts plenty of passers-by, a few stop in their tracks...yes, that is a jazz band playing to a full house!

In a couple of years the Tess Valley Jazzmen will clock up their 50th year playing gigs across the northeast, and, indeed, in their time they have performed nationally and internationally. Founding member Keith Belton is still at the helm, brother Gavin is a fixture, and the present front line - Gavin Lee and Don Fairley - is as good as any working the Dixieland circuit. 

Everbody Loves My Baby with Lee on soprano sax, the session was underway. Kate Bulman sang Route 66 and would return periodically during the afternoon. Keith Belton vacated the piano stool in favour of Alf Langthorne, in so doing taking the opportunity to sing Carry Me Back to Old Virginny. 

Raffle tickets were sold during the first set with gig-goers accepting the offer of a complimentary chocolate or toffee from a large tin, the sort piled high in supermarkets in the run-up to Christmas. With pint in hand MC Gavin Lee said the band would take a short break, returning presently.

Nobody's Sweetheart opened the second set followed by a US Civil War tune which heard the band Marching Through Georgia. Vocalist Bulman sang Careless Love, Lee featured on Louis' Hot Five classic Struttin' with some Barbecue, and, said our soprano sax ace, the Tees Valley would play something a bit modern - ie early 30s!. And so they played Darkness on the Delta (a hit for Mildred Bailey). Keith Belton sang Ice Cream (with audience participation) and friend of the TVJ, Mr Jimmy Robinson joined the band to Rock Around the Clock. An enjoyable afternoon drew to a close with Belton singing Goin' Home. 

Russell.