Dave Weisser's 80th Birthday Bash @ The Globe - October 11.

(Review by Lance/photo of Dave & Jude by Russell)
Photo Album

To call this the Gig of the Year would be to do a disservice to the many fine sessions that have taken place at the Jazz Coop headquarters and elsewhere in the region. However, to not call this the Gig of the Year would be to do an even greater disservice to a man who has (relatively speaking) probably done more to encourage emerging jazz talent than any school or college this side of Berklee, Mass.

I refer, of course, to Dave Weisser who celebrated his 80th birthday at the Globe with the help of the Railway St. regulars and a few of the local big hitters.

I don't know all the names but they included Dave Parker, Andrew Porritt (bass); Doug Kennard (piano); Peter Ninnim, Stan Praszczalek, John Bradford (drums); Johannes Dalhuitsen (tenor sax); Pete Bennett (guitar/flute); Roy Stephenson (guitar); Nigel Robson (trombone); Nigel Greenwood (alto sax/trumpet).

And, of course, the main man himself - Dave - blowing muted cornet and singing in his own distinctive way.

The room was filling up and friends old and new became reacquainted relegating the music, unforgivably, but understandingly, to wallpaper.
The bar was doing good business and it is a credit to the new manager/tenant that Marston's Pedigree was absolutely first-class which, in truth, hasn't always been the case here.

The buffet was declared open and, it has to be said, that Jude did us proud. Jude also did us proud when she took to the stage on bass guitar along with the guitar legend that is John Wilson and, on drums, John Bradford later replaced by Stan, the drummer with the unpronounceable surname, and Doug Kennard on piano. The game was afoot.

Night and Day by the Take it to the Bridge team seemed to last for as long as the title implied. This isn't a criticism just that there were a lot of solos to fit in.

Then Paul Gowland, the artist formerly known as 'Blue Hat' but now wearing a black hat - Johnny Davis - and Showtime Gray approached the stage rather like the James gang riding towards the bank in Northfield, Minnesota.

The battleground was There Will Never be Another You and the horns went for it big! However, it was unanimous that that title could only refer to the Birthday boy himself.

Alan Law was at the keyboard and, Jude went from bass guitar to flute to voice - she does them all perfectly. Paul Grainger played bass and Mo Scott set the world on fire with Route 66.

The joint was still jumpin' when my taxi arrived - quite a night!
Same time next year Dave.
Lance
Photos.