(Review by Russell)
Ten at night and the Victory was packed. The Village Hotel's on-site pub sure did look welcoming with its open fire and rustic beams, our visiting American friends no doubt impressed at this little piece of historic England. Don't tell them, but it is, of course, late twentieth-century fakery!
We were just down the road from New York, making our American friends feel right at home. That's New York, North Tyneside, not New York, USA. Easily confused, especially at night. The Classic Jazz Party's opening event was underway led by the all-American trumpet player Duke Heitger. Keeping him company from back home was first-time visitor to the CJP, Dan Levinson. The tall New Yorker stood alongside the not so tall fellow reedman Matthias Seuffert, Completing the frontline, another debutant, trombonist Adrian Fry, a man as tall and talented as Levinson.
Old Fashioned Love eased us into the three-day extravaganza, solos going across the frontline and on to the session's pianist, Martin Litton (see photo). A room full of classic jazz era aficionados would have hung around until silly o'clock but as the musicians on the stand had an early call - rehearsals from 8:30am - the one hour set drew to a close all too soon but not before an exquisite Skylark featured Heitger's mellow side and the two clarinets of Seuffert and Levinson. The all-British engine room - Litton, the always-acoustic Martin Wheatley playing guitar and a little banjo, the ever-reliable string bassist Malcolm Sked and percussion master Nick Ward - set the standard for the weekend's musical festivities.
And that was it, save for the ebullient Jeff Barnhart playing an impromptu tune or two. Mule Walk was nothing short of brilliant; stride patterns for fun, nonchalantly done - easy when you know how! And to close (a request for Bridget, all the way from the States), Tijuana. It had been a wonderful start to this year's Classic Jazz Party. Friday's action begins at noon. Day tickets (ten hours of hot jazz plus a late night jam session) priced at £55 are available on the door.
Russell.
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