It was back in October when Stuart McLean-Fowler launched a new night - gig plus jam session - at Gateshead's Central Bar. BSH was in attendance to hear Stuart's quintet play, in it's entirety, Blue Mitchell's The Thing to Do. And what a night it was! Trumpeter Stuart, tenor saxophonist Jamie Toms, pianist Alan Law, bassist Mick Shoulder and drummer John Bradford tore it up! There was a good turn out, too. Not at all bad for a first night. The jam session which followed was something else - Harry Keeble blowing great tenor, Michael Lamb's explosive bop trumpet playing, and, a real treat, the BBC Big Band's Martin Williams just happened to be in town and just happened to have his tenor with him. What a night it was!
Last month, BSH's Editor-in-Chief went along to Half Moon Lane (the Gateshead side of the High Level Bridge) to check it out for himself. The same quintet, this time tackling Freddie Hubbard's Open Sesame album. The same result, some terrific Blue Note jazz!* December's album is Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers' 1958 Blue Note recording Moanin' (originally titled Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers). Recorded at the Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack, the line-up couldn't be bettered - Lee Morgan, Benny Golson (he's still with us, still playing at the age of 92), Bobby Timmons, Jymie Merritt and the man, Art Blakey. So, Monday 13, 7:30 prompt start, a fiver admission, get your ticket (and a beer) from the bar downstairs. Wow! It's going to be some session!
* November's session was terrific, however, other than the brilliant Harry Keeble, there was a distinct lack of jam session sitters-in. Perhaps the five quid admission charge put them off. Who knows? Hopefully some will bring along their horn, part with a fiver and the night will be, as they say, 'something else'! Russell
1 comment :
Yes, fantastic to hear these Blue Note sessions reproduced so authentically and well worth a fiver. However, here's the rub. Asking jammers to pay a fiver to play for nothing is asking a lot as there are established sessions where they can blow for free. I appreciate this could be difficult to arrange. Someone carrying a sax case - no prob - a singer, a pianist? Perhaps jammers, and for the success for this excellent operation, should be asked to register in advance and maybe be at least offered a drink on the house.Thoughts ...
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