Jazz in the Afternoon - Crescent Club, Cullercoates - Dec. 31

(Review by Lance/ PHOTOS).

If the band last night were pushing the frontiers, this afternoon's combo was reeling them in! There's room in the world for both!

Surprisingly, despite, or perhaps because, it was New Year's Eve, both band and audience were slightly depleted. This didn't lessen the enjoyment and some of those who were able-bodied enough to do so shook it around a bit on the dancefloor.

I Will Walk Through the Streets of the City sang Herbie. Bye Bye Blackbird had more Herbie before John Brumwell threatened to Sit Right Down and Write Himself a Letter aided and abetted by our frontman, this time on harmonica. John continued with Sway. First time I'd heard him but he'd obviously been around the block a few times and had a touch of class.

Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You? queried Herbie whilst Ollie suggested we got our kicks on Route 66. Herbie posed another question - Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? I didn't. My Gal Sal followed before the "Hull Heartthrob", John Broddle sang I'll See You in My Dreams complete with verse and some effective vibraphone sounds from keyboard king Chester.

Intermission Raffle time, the prizes of which eluded Team Bebop. Still, a prize beyond the dreams of avarice awaited in the form of the legendary Teresa. After You've Gone and the rarely heard (these days) Did You Ever See a Dream Walking? fell from her lips like blossoms from the vine - here's to her next 100 years (joke - I think!) Roy Gibson had occupied the piano stool just as Hitler occupied the Rhine and, for a moment I thought  the late Adolph hadn't committed suicide in the bunker but had  returned and occupied the drum kit, however, it was only Ollie adding to the tomfoolery with a false moustache! Teresa finished her set with The More I See You.

Doris entered the fray on banjo, Brian unpacked his trombone and the two slide men played around with Dinah.  John Broddle returned for Alice Blue Gown and Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland before John Brumwell sang of The Sheik of Araby with  'Young John' on bass. The other JB bid us farewell with, not only, Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone but also Auld Lang Syne during the course of which I escaped.
A jolly afternoon.
Lance.
PHOTOS
Herbie Hudson (trombone/vocals/harmonica); Brian Chester (keys/trombone); John Carstairs Hallam (bass); Ollie Rillands (drums/vocal) + John Brumwell, Teresa Armstrong, John Broddle (vocals); Roy Gibson (keys); 'Young John' (bass); Doris Fenn (banjo).