John Youngs (banjo, vocals); Charles Dearness (trumpet); Paddy Darley (trombone); Stephen Feast (clarinet, tenor sax); Doug Kemp (string bass) + Lachlan Fotheringham (clarinet)
(Review by Russell)
Canal Street Blues opened the show, rooting the performance in the New Orleans of a century ago. The Tenement Jazz Band motored north, stopping off in Newcastle to play a final gig on the band's tour then on to Edinburgh for a short break before hitting the road again across Scotland.
Dusty Rag, Copenhagen, a John Youngs' vocal on Louisiana Fairytale, clearly the Tenements were demob happy. Milenberg Joys, Sun Ra's Chocolate Avenue (that's composer Herman Poole Blount before he took up residence on Saturn), a nod to Freddie Keppard courtesy of Charles (Chuck) Deerness' fine lead on Stock Yards Strut. The band's new boy, clarinetist Stephen Feast (in age he's got a few more miles on the clock than the young guns in the band), featured on Petite Fleur and hearing it one more time did no harm. New Orleans Wiggle, the eponymous track from the Tenements' all-but-sold-out debut EP, closed out an excellent first set.
At the start of the second set Newcastle based medic, and friend of the Tenements, Lachlan Fotheringham joined the band to play a couple of numbers including Bogalusa Strut (another cut from New Orleans Wiggle). Lachlan, sitting alongside fellow reedsman Stephen, engaged in a contrasting two-clarinet joust - excellent stuff! Lachlan stayed on as banjo playing frontman John Youngs sang Blue Drag. A request (there's always one!) - South from the Moten band - found new boy Feast switching to tenor sax and, surprise, surprise, he proved to be no slouch on it!
Jelly Roll Morton's New Orleans Bump (Feast and Dearness soloing), then, to sign off, Weary Blues. The Tenements, nominally marshalled by the superb trombonist (and erstwhile employee here at Prohibition Bar) Paddy Darley, are the band of the moment. A new album is in the pipeline, be sure to catch them and it next time they're in town.
Russell
4 comments :
Sounds to have been a good session - wish I could have made it. Were any of our local trad people there?
Oh yes, indeed, Lance - it was a hot and stomping session! There were a few musicians on the local scene listening too, jazzers and a top blues man - plus one promoter was spotted.
Yes, Brian C, Dave K and Phil R. Also, up from Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club, the Sams. Incidentally, yesterday Red Stripe drew a large crowd to St Augustine's. Later in the month (Sat 28) from France it is Mama Shakers.
Thanks Russell!
Was a great afternoon, we had a lovely time as always at prohibition.
See you all again soon!
TJB
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