(Screenshot by Russell) |
Arriving hot foot
from the House of the Black Gardenia's gig in the Ouseburn Valley, it was
thanks to Prohibition Bar's ever-obliging proprietor Mitch that a table for two
became available at an otherwise full house down on Pink Lane.
As a bottle of the house beer arrived (table-service only!) Julija Jacenaite's first set came to a close. Looking around the room, it became apparent this evening's patrons, with one or two exceptions, weren't regulars on the Tyneside jazz scene. A second set flew by, a third set would follow.
As ever, Julija poured heart and soul into her performance. Her
accompanist, pianist Alan Law, the perfect foil to Julija, looking ever-more
professorial with specs perched on the end of his nose. Whatever Julija chose
to sing, Alan obliged with the right chord, the right phrase, our Lithuanian
vocalist reaching ever-greater heights. Cheek to Cheek (Mask
to Mask sang Julija), Wonderful World (Louis' anthem
a song for our times!), Cole Porter's lyric You'd be so nice to come
home to found favour with a war-time audience, how strange that it
should resonate in these pandemic times! Julija and Alan closed their set
with There Will Never be Another You. Prohibition Bar is back in
business, be sure to check the listings for more jazz gigs down on Pink
Lane. Russell
No comments :
Post a Comment