Jam session @ The Dun Cow, Jesmond - August 22

(Review/photos by Russell)

The house trio set-up in good time as Brandling Park jam session regulars bagged prime seats ahead of the eight o'clock downbeat. It's taken a while but the signs are good, audience numbers are slowly but surely increasing and with next month's influx of students - both freshers and old hands - the future looks bright for the fortnightly session.  

Things started relatively sanely given that the irrepressible James Harrison led the session. When the Teessider is in town anything can happen. Yardbird Suite set the measure, would anyone be brave enough to get up and give it a go? Step forward Kevin Green toting a soprano sax. A measured Night and Day did no harm and the self-confessed 'am jammer' will return, one hopes, with any lingering nerves banished. 

Kay Usher is a regular participant at this Jesmond session and a brace of tunes - I Can't Give You Anything but Love and My Little Suede Shoes - kept the pot boiling. Harrison quipped: Next victim please! Well, the next 'victim' was to give as good as he got. Jimmy Jefford was in town and set about blazing an alto bop trail before taking it down on In a Sentimental Mood. He would return.

Andrea Harrison and Lisa Delarny teamed up with electric bassist Rob Walker and ace drummer Paul Grainger. What's that? Has your correspondent been drinking? No, bottled water, m'Laud. Yes, drummer Rob Walker swapped roles with PG to accompany vocalist Andrea and rhythm guitarist Lisa on What a Difference a Day Makes and, with a quick change around, Harrison J (aka a piano player) getting behind the traps on Marvin Gaye's communal anthem What's Going On as Jefford belatedly returned to the action. Confused? You could have been if you'd just wandered in off the street! See photos...

Who else was around? They were propping up the bar. Niffi Osiyemi next up with It Don't Mean a Thing followed by Jazz Co-oper Jen Errington dipping in to the GASbook to sing I Thought About You. Pianist, bassist and drummer had resumed their rightful roles as the action hotted up. Tenor man John Rowland parked his bicyclette outside, stepping inside to accompany, alongside Strictly Smokin' trumpet-playing MD Michael Lamb, the one-and-only Alice Grace! Lullaby of Birdland...honestly, simply sublime. Another one from AG...Lerner and Loewe's On the Street Where You Live from My Fair Lady. Our Fair Lady, Ms Grace wowed the audience with Michael Lamb's solo being marked down as solo of the night, no question.

Talking of Fair Ladies...Lindsay Hannon arrived in time for a fine finale with a typically personal take on Billie's God Bless the Child (superb piano playing by Harrison). Every which way this week's jam session proved to be the best yet. 

Russell

James Harrison (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass, drums); Rob Walker (drums, bass guitar) + Kevin Green (soprano sax); Kay Usher (violin); Jimmy Jefford (alto sax); Andrea Harrison (vocals); Lisa Delarny (guitar); Niffi Osiyemi (vocals); Jen Errington (vocals); John Rowland (tenor sax); Michael Lamb (trumpet); Alice Grace (vocals); Lindsay Hannon (vocals)