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| (Photo by Russell) |
Jude Murphy (double bass, vocals); Judah Grunstein (guitar); Bernie Ransom (keyboards, tenor sax, vocals)
The Foundry Jazz Ensemble came into being from lockdown rehearsal sessions on the Foundry Lane Industrial Estate down in the Ouseburn. Now that restrictions are beginning to ease, Jude Murphy is keen to get a few gigs in the diary. This afternoon's performance in the grounds of St James' and St Basil's in Fenham, Newcastle was one of them.
On a glorious summer's afternoon Jude, sporting an Anita O'Day look (see photo, nice hat!), Bernie Ransom and Judah Grunstein entertained a sizeable gathering to two sets of jazz standards plus an (animated) oddity. From Clifford Brown to Jimmy Van Heusen to Jimmy McHugh (and Dorothy Fields) to Henry Mancini to Cole Porter, the very names of the composers tells a story...it was quality material all the way. Jude and Bernie shared the vocals, guitarist Judah content to sit in between and behind, supplying some nice rhythmic accompaniment and the occasional considered solo excursion of his own.
Sandu opened the set, volume levels about right, perhaps Bernie's keyboard a touch bright, it can't be easy to get it spot on in the open air, not least with buses passing-by every few minutes! Jude won the vocal stakes with her Portuguese lyrics to Jobim's Corcovado. Excellent! Bernie sang McHugh and Fields' I Must Have That Man in an understated, conversational vocal style. Indeed, on an unexpected rendition of Meet the Flintstones J's and B's audience heard more of Bernie's impish vocals. The Foundry Jazz Ensemble closed the afternoon with Cole Porter's You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To. And so we made our way home. Russell
Set list: Sandu; Corcovado; Alone Together; But Beautiful; Just Squeeze Me; Nardis; I Must Have That Man; The Days of Wine and Roses; Bye Bye Blackbird; Birk's Works; Meet the Flintstones; Theme; You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To.
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