Mike Durham's Classic Jazz Party 2018 @ Village Hotel, Cobalt Business Park, Newcastle (ish) - November 4.

(Review by Lance)

Mike Durham's Classic Jazz Party rose, Phoenix-like from the ashes of the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival which, due to funding issues, finished some 20 years after its 1990 beginning. However, trumpet playing leader of the West Jesmond Rhythm Kings, Mike Durham didn't allow this to deter him. Inspired by the various 'jazz parties' in America such as the legendary bash held in Denver Colorado, under Mike's guidance, the Classic Jazz Party came about. Over the years it has seen many famous names, not least Daryl Sherman and Cecile McLorin Salvant (pictured here w. Jean Francois Bonnel) who performed a memorable duo set a few years back.

Sadly, Mike passed on but his wife, Patti, made sure that he wasn't forgotten by ensuring that this, surely the best celebration of classic jazz, and with the help of Keith Nicholls and a dedicated team of helpers, continued in his name.

This year I was only able to grab a few sessions but what sessions they were!

Joan Viskant's Let's Misbehave celebrated those twenties flapper girls such as Ruth Etting and Elsie Carlisle. Dressed appropriately, Joan won everyone's hearts with her renditions that, amazingly didn't sound at all dated. For 30 glorious minutes, she'd taken us back in time and, I guess so many of us wished we could stay. Actually, this wasn't a problem as the whole weekend is a glorious cocoon of that time between the wars when all that many folks had was music from the radio. No bread or employment but great music.

Joan was backed up by a choice selection of the CJP regulars including Emma Fisk whose playing of Florian Zabach' s Hot Canary was the perfect intro to My Canary's Got Circles Under His Eyes. I seem to remember George Melly used to milk this one.

Jeff Barnhart is the life and soul of any party - as was Fats Waller. Combine the two and you have the perfect recipe to get the joint jumpin'. Rather than play safe with the old favourites he introduced the audience to some little-known Waller compositions - every one a gem!

Of course, any jazz festival/party worth its salt has a big band and this one didn't fall short! Goldkette, Goodman, Ellington, Coon-Saunders, Chick Webb and, the one I caught - Fletcher Henderson.

Was this a success? You betcha! The advance inquiries for next year were hitting the tray so fast they ran out of forms!

But, this isn't just about the music - although it wouldn't happen without it - it's a reunion of friends drawn together by their mutual love of the jazz from another era. This also poses the question - is it a past era or the dawn of a new era? If only...

Lance.

PS: As I was leaving, I managed this shot of some of the guys. I can name two of them but I'd like to namecheck the other two.