Jam Session @ The Black Swan - October 1

(Review by Russell)

The first jam session since the student freshers' week and few, if any, showed. Perhaps their heads were buried in course text books. They'll catch on, this is the one night they shouldn't miss! Most of the regulars were there, usual seats, ready for some action.

The house trio - Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger and Tim Johnston - got things under way with On Green Dolphin Street. It didn't take long for the first of the sitters-in to join the party. Harry Keeble blew tenor on a couple including In a Sentimental Mood. Commanding tenor saxophone, the house trio offering sterling support, the recently graduated Keeble is a star in the making. 

Teessider Jan Spencelayh is an always welcome visitor to the Black Swan session and for starters sang All the Things You Are followed by Bye Bye Blackbird with a measured first verse. Jan would later return to the stand with an old friend to sing some more. 

Tenor saxophonist George Sykes, sporting a new hair cut, worked in tandem with 'bone maestro David Gray on God Bless the Child - excellent, the first of the evening's many highlights.

His Africa sojourn at an end, pianist Joel Brown is back on the scene. He called a  seasonally appropriate Autumn Leaves with John Pope giving Main Man Grainger the chance to go to the bar and Abbie Finn spelling Tim Johnston. Harry Keeble couldn't resist adding his tenor to the mix suggesting ESP. Good call with young Joel all over it! 

At a given juncture the fortnightly jam session invariably becomes an ever more dizzying cast of A-list guests - Adam Sams got up (his snazzy Gibson didn't go unnoticed) and took a look at Doxy, Sykes came back for more, likewise Showtime. Don't you just love jam sessions?! 

Jan Spencelayh sang some more - At Last  a winner - with Stu Collingwood once again at the piano. And then, the moment arrived...Bob Caswell said hello to his old pal Stu before proceeding with another in his vocal masterclass series. Nature Boy oozed class, a class act is Mr Caswell. As Ray Burns hovered in the wings a treat of treats pitched Jan with Bob. Their rendition of Every Time We Say Goodbye stole the show, simply tremendous! 

Russell
Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums) +  Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Jan Spencelayh (vocals);  George Sykes (tenor sax); David Gray (trombone); John Pope (double bass); Joel Brown ( piano); Abbie Finn (drums);  Bob Caswell (vocals); ? (drums); Adam Sams (guitar); Michael Mather (drums); Ray Burns (harmonica)