(Review by Russell)
Jazz in the Quakerhouse, jazz along
at Joseph Pease statue, jazz at St Augustine's...decisions, decisions. Opting
for the latter, the Larchfield Street Parish Centre venue couldn't have been
busier. Indeed the 100+ attendance set a new record at Darlington's flourishing
New Orleans Jazz Club and little wonder with the New Century Ragtime
Orchestra's star guests being none other than Enrico Tomasso, Nick Ward and Ruth
Lambert.
The full house lapped up two balanced
sets of classic material and popular songs of the day interspersed with some
vocal numbers from our vocal triumvirate. The New Century's 'boy vocalist' Jim
McBriarty led the way in the vocal stakes singing My Sweet Tooth Says
Yes (but my Wisdom Tooth Says No). A good start, there would be more
singing from McBriarty and the band's special guests.
The Benny Moten Kansas City
Orchestra's Rumba Negro, more Ellington with, as Andrews teased his
bandmates, Arthur Whetsol, Barney Bigard and 'Tricky' Sam Nanton
(actually Tomasso, Lee and Neville Hartley!) playing Black Beauty and
a superb Patrol Wagon Blues with Red Allen trumpet and vocals
by Rico Tomasso accompanied by percussion wizard Nick Ward's immaculate
brushwork were just three highlights during an afternoon of
highlights.
The NCRO's guest band vocalist Ruth
Lambert sat to one side chuckling along with the crowded room as MC Andrews
kept the one-liners coming. From time to time the Tyneside-based singer,
rightly described by Andrews as 'one of England's premier vocalists', joined
the ensemble to sing a selection including That's You, Baby, Mad
about the Boy and, in an unexpected departure, a wonderful small group
(most of the boys vacated the stage seeking liquid refreshment) vocal rendition
of Skylark accompanied by Andrew's fluttering, soaring
clarinet.
Gone three o'clock the New Century
Ragtime Orchestra said good afternoon to an appreciative, attentive audience
with a rousing Limehouse Blues.
Russell
New Century Ragtime Orchestra: Jim
McBriarty, Alan Marshall, Gavin Lee, Steve Andrews (reeds); Enrico Tomasso
(trumpet, vocals); Dave Hignett (trumpet); Neville Hartley (trombone); Colin Haikney (piano); Keith
Stephen (guitar, banjo); Phil Rutherford (tuba); Nick Ward (drums); Ruth
Lambert (vocals)
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