Stu Collingwood (piano); Andy Champion (bass); Russ Morgan (drums).
(Review by Lance/Photos courtesy of Russell).
A good acquaintance of mine remarked that he thought I was too fulsome with my praise when writing reviews. As this was from a person whose opinion I respect, I gave the matter some thought and came to the conclusion that he was right!
However, by way of explanation, I'll admit that when I like something or somebody I'm not afraid to show it. On the other hand, if I don't like something or somebody, I just keep my big mouth shut. After all, this isn't God speaking and all criticism is 99% subjective anyway. My friend mentioned jam session reviews which is a different kettle of fish altogether. Often some of the participants are relatively new to the game and speaking as one who knows the 1000 deaths a person can go through before plucking up the courage to play or sing (or even draw the raffle!) the last thing I want to do is quench their enthusiasm (the legend of Charlie Parker and the cymbal incident with Jo Jones springs to mind*).
Constructive criticism? Well-meaning words but, in practice, not always seen that way by the recipient. Also, I think most musicians know whether they've played well or not without being told.
So, after all that, we come to tonight's inaugural jam session at the Fire Station in Sunderland. Now no longer a quencher of fires, this splendid addition to Sunderland's cultural scene which features guitarist Bradley Johnston on the last Sunday in the month (next one this coming Sunday, May 27), decided to have a weekly Jazz Jam similar to the fortnightly jams at the Jazz Café and the Globe in Newcastle, the Dun Cow in Jesmond and the weekly term time ones in Durham.
The house trio was magnificent (honestly, I speaketh true) but, sadly, the jammers stayed away. Possibly the approaching bank holiday weekend may have had an effect on this. Let's hope that next week sees some action.
Not that the evening was a total loss - far from it - how could it be with such a formidable threesome?
Stu appeared to be working alphabetically through the GASbook so we had: A Beautiful Friendship; But Beautiful; Beautiful Love; Caravan; Eleanor Rigby and Embraceable You in the first set.
The alphabet pie finished, the second set opened with If I Were a Bell; Fire Station Blues; Someday My Prince Will Come; Take Five (a request); 'Round Midnight (another request); On Green Dolphin Street and, finally, Moonglow which the couple with me voted the best number of the night - I didn't argue albeit it was a tough call!
The trio are back next Thursday so bring your axe along to the Fire Station (it's next to Sunderland Empire.)
Lance
* Read about the incident here.
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