Tommy
Moran (tenor sax); Jim McBriarty (alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet); Kieran
Parnaby (trombone); Norman Brown (piano); Alan Rudd (double bass); Tommy Graham
(drums); Olive Rudd (vocals)
(Review by Russell)
it's
almost Christmas, isn't it? Things tend to be a bit rushed, don’t they? And, of
course, every jazz gig during December seems to be an excuse for a party and/or
buffet with a few beers. All this is a preamble to your reviewer confessing he
forgot to take photographs at today's Classic Swing gig!
Five days
before Christmas, the Metro system shutdown, would anyone turn out for Classic
Swing's seasonal knees up? They certainly did, what's more, raffle prizes
galore and a buffet weren't to be sniffed at. Two deps in today - pianist
Norman Brown and, on loan from the Strictly Smokin', trombonist Kieran
Parnaby.
A Tommy
Moran composition to begin with - Jump for Jim - in typical
small group swing style. A good start. Band vocalist Olive Rudd managed to organise
the buffet and accept donations to the raffle in between singing a few numbers,
the first of which, a seasonal Winter Wonderland, featured solos
from Jim McBriarty, clarinet, Kieran Parnaby and Moran blowing tenor. Johnny
Hodges' territory on Good Queen Bess heard a rare thing...a
bass solo from Alan Rudd!
McBriarty
sang about a Honeysuckle Rose with a fine piano solo from
veteran Norman Brown. Olive Rudd returned to the stand to insist It's a
Sin to Tell a Lie with McBriarty on soprano sax and Brown
quoting White Christmas just as regular band pianist Colin
Haikney dropped by - it was good to see Colin out and about.
At this
time of year raffles tend to yield a bumper crop and here at Jesmond Legion no
fewer than nine prizes were up for grabs. Your reviewer spied a box of Milk
Tray. First number out the hat - no.856...YES!!! Your reviewer bagged the Milk
Tray! Another pint of Old Speckled Hen to celebrate.
Second
set: A first outing for Moran's The Master's Magic couldn't
have been more apposite with Colin Haikney sitting listening. Clarinet, alto,
trombone, tenor, piano, bass - all took a few bars, Mr Haikney nodded in
appreciation.
Rockin'
Round the Christmas Tree tempted
Olive Rudd back to the stage (pianist Brown couldn't resist quoting Rudolph
the Red Nosed Reindeer) and before long the three o'clock finish loomed
with, somewhat inevitably, our vocalist encouraging the room to sing along
to White Christmas.
Please
note - Classic Swing won't be at the Ship Inn on Christmas Eve nor New Year's
Eve. Your next chance to hear the band will be on Friday 17 January at Jesmond
Legion, from which date the West Jesmond residency will be a third Friday in
the month affair. Russell
1 comment :
Ken, Ken Drew, where are you now, now that we need you?!
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