James Williams (trumpet, trombone,
vocals); Bryce Eastwood (clarinet, soprano sax, vocals); JP Brion (trombone);
Sam Fribush (piano, vocals); Gary Washington (string bass); Tim Rachbach
(drums)
(Review by Russell)
One band, two gigs, two venues a
stone's throw a part, the Swamp Donkeys were in town! The Ouseburn Delta had
rarely seen anything like it. All the way from New Orleans via Leeds and
London, James Williams strolled into Ernest, sat down, and began to play.
Ernest on Boyd Street welcomed its
regulars and an influx of expectant jazz fans there to listen (and dance) to
the 'real deal' from New Orleans. This, the first of two performances, served
as a promo for a gig later in the evening a few doors down at Cobalt Studios.
No PA, no amplification, the Swamp Donkeys played it entirely acoustically,
just as the music's pioneers did way back when.
Washington and Lee Swing opened the show.
Williams, trumpet and vocals, sat down as though a customer, flanked to his left
by Bryce Eastwood, clarinet, to his right by trombonist JP Brion. Standing
before them were their fans - yes, Newcastle welcomed its American visitors
with open arms. Williams sings like Louis Armstrong but, make no mistake, this
isn't mere pastiche, this is what he does! Imagine...one hundred years ago
Armstrong would have played gigs like this, no PA, battling to be heard. And
here he was - Williams, that is - gigging down in the Ouseburn Delta. To coin a
phrase, you couldn't make it up!
Blue Turning Grey, Muskrat
Ramble, Royal Garden Blues - this way spine-tingling
stuff. Veterans of the scene turned out, they weren't about to miss this one.
As Williams held court one local bandleader remarked: Fabulous! Terrific!
The stripped-back rhythm section -
Gary Washington, string bass, Tim Rachbach, snare drum, and pianist (sans
piano) Sam Fribush brandishing a tambourine - laid down a Big Easy foundation
upon which Williams did his thing. Yes, this was fabulous and terrific alright.
Bring on Cobalt!
A couple of hours later Cobalt
Studios' industrial space opened its doors ready for business. A former
warehouse premises on Boyd Street, all manner of gigs have been staged beneath
a somewhat incongruous glitterball. This evening a genuine Big Easy sextet took
to the stage. Ernest's acoustic Swamp Donkeys morphed into an amplified outfit
for what would be a highly charged performance.
The Swamp Donkeys' horns sat on
Cobalt's on-stage sofa, it was as if we were in a Storyville saloon bar. James
Williams cut a relaxed figure, leaning back, blowing hot trumpet, then singing
(Rosetta, I'm Confessin'), yeah, we were in N'Awlins, for
sure. Williams stood tall, engaging the audience, he's a real showman is the
Swamp Donkeys' main man.
The Swamp Donkeys is a drinking band
(Jack Daniel's and the like). Mid-set an overly-keen glass collector swept-up
Williams' drink from the front of the stage. Williams, quick as a flash: Hey!
Where ya goin' with my beer? In N'Awlins that could get you killed! Turning
to his band mates...Ain't that right boys?! Our glass collector
returned Mr Williams' drink, double quick.
Earlier, Ernest's acoustic set was as
a young Louis Armstrong would have played it. Here at Cobalt the amplified
Swamp Donkeys moved into Blues Brothers' revue-style territory with Newcastle's
swing dancers readily switching to a boogie-on-down style. A storming Everybody
Needs Somebody to Love to a chilled Wonderful World to Jesus
on the Mainline, Williams and his ace band (Bryce Eastwood, clarinet/soprano
sax, particularly impressive) gave the audience what it wanted, and more. St
James' Infirmary (a request), it was almost time to go and When
the Saints sealed the deal. It had been quite a night down in the
Mississippi/Ouseburn Delta.
Russell
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