Mark Williams (guitar); Paul Grainger (bass); Russ Morgan (drums) + Elliott Todd (flugel); Graham Easthope, Ian White (tenor sax); Steve Summers (soprano sax); Jordan Alfonso, Faye Thompson (alto); Abbie Finn (drums); Poppy (flute/vocal); Minnie Fraser, Rob (from Derbyshire (vocals); John Pope (bass).
(Review by Lance).
View PHOTOS.
Like many a jam, this one began low key with only a spirited version of April in Paris to keep the customers from nodding off. Mark Williams in fine form and Russ Morgan having a burn whilst Paul Grainger bass-fiddled.
The mellow mood continued as Elliott Todd, toting a newly acquired flugelhorn, waxed lyrical on Misty. Graham Easthope, who looks nothing like Michael Caine, upped the ante with Alfie's Tune before the gender balance was evened out when Abbie took over on drums and Minnie sang Lullaby of Birdland and Stardust complete with verse. 
By now, the room was fairly crowded as bods with bags and cases materialised. Amongst these was Jordan Alfonso who dazzled on Sister Sadie and jam session perennial There Will Never Be Another You.
Enter Steve Summers. You could tell he was serious - he had a quick tune-up before joining Jordan for an emotive rendition of I Remember Clifford. This was 5-star stuff with both players showing mutual admiration. Older fans will remember the late Bobby Carr's version and this was way up in that league.
Faye Thompson replaced Jordan for a groove-based number that I recognised but couldn't name - help needed! The girl was in good form.
Next up Pope and Poppy. Apart from name similarity they were colour co-ordinated (see photo). Pope on bass, Poppy on flute and vocals for The Shadow of Your Smile and Wave.
A melodic interlude before the impending storm with which all self-respecting jam sessions conclude with.
Ian White and Faye hit the funk trail with Road Song, Steve made it six on Four and then all hell broke loose!
Just about each and everyone was up there jamming like it was the eve of Armageddon with the addition of Rob (from Derbyshire), an unassuming chap who had been sitting at our table nursing a cup of tea (or maybe it was something more blues orientated such as black coffee), who joined the fray and hollered the blues as if he was Blind Lemon Hooker up from Georgia after selling his soul to the devil at a crossroads.
A fitting finale although I felt I should have been going home on a Greyhound bus rather than the 27 Crusader.
Lance.
1 comment :
Thoroughly enjoyed this session Lance. All the players were superb; Ron, Linda & Cec were great company. This will be an abiding memory of my visit to Newcastle.
Rob
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