(Review by Russell)
Weather
warnings were issued, flood defence measures were in place down on the Tyne and
there was a match on at St James' Park. The likelihood was the first jam
session of the year would be down on numbers - both participants and listeners.
Well, perhaps the determination of all was somewhat underestimated. As the
house trio opened with Dear Old Stockholm the Black Swan was
filling up nicely and by the end of the night there would be the glorious sight
and sound of a ten-strong ensemble blowing on a Bobby Timmons'
favourite.
Messrs
Law, Grainger and Walker were in fine form. Pianist Alan Law just couldn't help
swinging it...just what Dr Jazz ordered! A rare jam session appearance by Faye
MacCalman (tenor sax), an equally rare sighting of vocalist Miriam McCormick
and a debut performance by Sheila Herrick spiced-up what was already shaping up
to be quite a night.
McCormick,
an Indigo Jazz Voice, found herself working with some of the scene's big
hitters. Singing It's Almost Like Being in Love and You
Don't Know What Love Is, our vocalist shared the stand with Steve Summers
(tenor sax) and Lawrence Harrison (guitar) with fine support from Alan Law.
Herrick took courage by the scruff of the neck and, with MacCalman on tenor,
did herself proud singing Ain't Misbehavin' and, with maestro
Alan Law at the piano, a bluesy Fine and Mellow.
A jam
session favourite was in the house. Up from Teeside, sporting a natty hat, Jan
Spencelayh sang a corking Cheek to Cheek with Jordan Alfonso
blowing alto and the 'other' Harrison, Lawrence's guitar playing brother
Charles, showing what he could do (a case of 'anything you can do...'!) 'Natty
Hat' Spencelayh followed up with My Funny Valentine accompanied
by Steve Summer's exquisite soprano sax and tightly muted phrasing from Black
Swan newcomer Edgar Bell, trumpet.
Three
further names must be mentioned. In doing so, note there is an Early Bird
session at the Lit and Phil on Saturday morning at 11:00am. Two graduates of
Paul Edis' hothouse band were in town. Matt MacKellar sat-in and, as we have
come to expect, the Berklee undergraduate demonstrated he has few equals here
on Tyneside. Musing...wouldn't it be great to check out the Boston,
Massachusetts jazz scene?! And the other former Early Bird, up from York,
blowing alto sax...Faye Thompson. FT called Bye Bye Blackbird. Solo
of the night, no question. FT must have been in the woodshed, fantastic stuff!
It just so happened Steve Summers was on the number. Later the two
saxophonists were observed talking, likely as not, all things saxophone.
And
finally, better late than never...it's Showtime! David Gray joined the fray,
making it a tentet (there may have been more!) blast on Moanin'. MC
Paul Grainger herded the jazz cats with aplomb, all the while anchoring the
session on bass. If a bass player would like to come along to the next Black
Swan jam session (Tuesday 28 Jan) Mr PG would be delighted to see you. As they
say, PG could 'take five' and go to the bar.
Russell
Alan Law
(piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Rob Walker (drums) + Faye MacCalman
(tenor sax); Edgar Bell (trumpet); Charles Harrison (guitar); Miriam McCormick
(vocals): Faye Thompson (alto sax); Lawrence Harrison (guitar); Steve Summers
(tenor sax, soprano sax); Sheila Herrick (vocals); Matt MacKellar (drums); Jan
Spencelayh (vocals); Jordan Alfonso (alto sax); David Gray (trombone)
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