Brian Bennett (banjo); Bob Wade (trumpet); Brian Chester (trombone); Jim McBriarty (clarinet/alto); Bill Colledge (bass); Fred Thompson (drums/vocal); John Broddle (vocal).
(Review by Lance).
I had a couple of hours to spare before Tom's funeral so I dropped by the Crescent Club in Cullercoats to catch the first set by the Vieux Carré Jazzmen. Never a bad thing to do, particularly if you're sampling the real ales on offer as you listen. Unfortunately, I was driving and under doctor's orders not to partake so it was Coca-Cola for me.
Before Who's Sorry Now got the ball rolling, a rendition of Happy Birthday was sung by all to John Broddle who would himself soon be taking to the stage. However, on WSN it was Fred Thompson who knew all the words.
A spirited version of Rosetta before it was time for the birthday boy and Deep Purple followed by Running Wild. Somehow, it was difficult to imagine this audience running wild although no doubt back in the day...
Next up was an instrumental Otchichornya aka Dark Eyes followed by Fred Thompson singing Way Down Yonder in New Orleans although, of course, he was still in Cullercoats. Swinging the Blues had some unusual voicings in the head although there was nothing unusual about the solos from the horns. McBriarty is equally at home on alto or clarinet floating through the changes as if he'd been doing it all his life. Come to think of it, he probably has. Bob Wade leads from the front with the power and the panache of, say, Yank Lawson or Max Kaminsky and moving the VCJ a little further up the Mississippi than in days of yore. On trombone, Brian Chester, depping for the ailing McBriarty major, ensured they didn't stray too far from the levee. A combination of contrasting styles that made every number interesting.
The intermission time was beckoning and it wouldn't be long before I was heading for the graveyard - perhaps I should have requested St. James Infirmary Blues. As it was, John Broddle returned and gave us Roses of Picardy. Not a tune you hear very often with banjo accompaniment.
Happy Birthday, John.
Lance.
PS: Unfortunately, I missed Miles sitting in on trumpet and vocal - next time!
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