Jam Session @ the Black Swan - Sept. 3

(Review/photos by Lance).

Six singers in a session made this an evening to remember for those of us who like a well-crafted lyric and there have been few lyricists who crafted it better than Ira Gershwin with They All Laughed, although the version by Niffi O may have strayed from his original intentions! We weren't laughing, most of us were applauding wildly as we also did after she worked out on Nellie Lutcher's 1948 hit Fine Brown Frame.

Unintimidated by this wild beginning, Jen Errington who, Paul Grainger informed us has a cat called Duke (Duke Errington - get it?), offered contrast with When Sunny Gets Blue and You Go To My Head. A sensitive and tender performance that almost silenced the audience - almost!

Miriam McCormick followed with Good Morning Heartache and a jaunty I'm in the Mood for Love.

At last, an instrumentalist! Giles Strong didn't need words to get the message across on Days of Wine & Roses, Just Friends and, Blue Bossa.

A break was called - perhaps for bingo or maybe Simon Cowell was going to pass judgement? No, it was time to give Walker and Law a spell with Mo now on drums and a young first-timer, James, on piano. Sorry James but I didn't get your surname. With Giles and Paul still manning the fort, up stepped Jan.

How Insensitive and I Only Have Eyes for You. A few key explorations were called for before a mutually agreeable choice was made on the latter number - such are the hazards of jam sessions.

Enter JJ! It had been awhile since I'd heard the Lithuanian Lark and she was in scintillating form aided and abetted by Showtime Gray.

If You Don't Want to be Down With me was followed by a bizarre melange of Wave, Oye Como Va, Summertime, Autumn Leaves and maybe a few more! She also duetted with Alan Law on keyboard. Amazing!

Bob Caswell thought so and gave her the acknowledgement she deserved before treating us to The Shadow of Your Smile followed by Laura. Magnificent - look out Tony Bennett, Bob's only 8 years behind you and closing in.

Meanwhile, David Gray had been hovering - his trombone primed - and ready to storm the citadel. I Got Rhythm provided the ammunition and the trombone became a battering ram. This was so hot I'm sure the slide melted (see pic)! Misty was rather more mellow.

An unusual session that would have benefited from maybe a trumpet or a couple of saxes. As I headed for the Metro I noted a platoon  of suitcases emerging from the station. Part of the new intake - I wondered how many, if any, were aspiring jazz musicians? There's usually a few. Time will tell.

Lance.
PS: Needless to say, the house trio of Law, Grainger and Walker were excellent!

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (bass); Rob Walker (drums) + Giles Strong (guitar); Hazem Mohammed (drums); David 'Showtime' Gray (trombone); James ? (piano); Niffi Osiyemi, Jen Errington, Miriam McCormick, Jan Spencelayh, Julija Jacenaite, Bob Caswell (vocals).