The no. 39 bus Black Swan jam session - Dec. 7

It was one of those nights. Storm Barra cried off, an audience turned out, a graduating student partied the night away, a couple of of the Knats guys made their jam session bow, two first year Guildhall hotshots dropped by, the usual phalanx of horn players were conspicuous by their absence, and the Main Man, Mr P Grainger couldn't believe his eyes when one bass player after another walked in. What's that about waiting half your life for the no. 39 bus then six come along in quick succession?! 

Where to begin? At the beginning...Jimmy Van Heusen's It Could Happen to You with Dean Stockdale at the Nord keyboard, Mr PC (briefly) playing double bass and, returning for a second jam session in succession, drummer Tim Johnston. Autumn in New York then a blues in G, staple jam session material, all dispatched with aplomb. 

From here on in, the evening was something akin to a blizzard as one sitter-in after another got up to show what they could do. Niffi Osiyemi arrived early and she was ready to go for it. Her brief moment in the Black Swan spotlight included a riotous take on Honeysuckle Rose. An acquaintance observed: Nobody falls asleep when Niffi's singing! Knats' bass and drums pairing - Stan Woodward and King David Ike-Elechi - were about to get their first taste of a top flight jam session. They brought along their 'all-guns-blazing' approach, whatever the number they went for the jugular. Suffice to  say, Wayne Shorter's Footprints received the treatment. They'll be back, that's for sure, and when we see them next perhaps they'll reign it in, playing the tune and playing with the other musicians on the stand. 

It was a milestone day for bassist, and sometime vocalist, Ifedi Osiyemi. Today, Ifedi graduated from Newcastle University. Dr Ifedi will see you shortly, he is presently on stage celebrating his considerable achievement. Still in lounge suit and tie, Ifedi chilled out on Bye Bye Blackbird and You Stepped Out of a Dream.    

The participation of an experienced pair of hands is never a bad thing. Andy Lawrenson was the man for the job as two first year Guildhall students - Edgar Ho, piano, and Oscar Ho, double bass - joined the party. Drummer Bailey made a welcome return as violinist Lawrenson steered the young guns through Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise, singing a verse for good measure. Sweet Sue heard more of Lawrenson's effective vocals and Bailey grabbed a solo. Excellent playing by all, the Hos are ones to watch, that's for sure.* 

As Ifedi and his many student friends headed off into the night - one suspects it would be a long night! - David Gray took centre stage. 'Showtime' as he is affectionately known, has, of late, added vocals to his armoury. The boy can sing! Perhaps not yet a 'jazz' voice, but that'll surely come. All of Me sang Gray, his trombone playing second to none. Michael Mather sat behind the traps, always encouraging, ever the enthusiast. Working alongside pianist Murray Wankling, Mather and co offered excellent support to Jan Spencelayh. Yes, Jan had driven up from Teesside, it's always good to see her and this evening our Musicians Unlimited big band vocalist really nailed At Last. A highlight of the evening. 

And so to the finale. It's become something of a Black Swan tradition to have a parade of sax players jousting on an extended blowout. Not this evening. None, that's NONE, were in the house! And on an evening when no fewer than six bass players turned up like a succession of no. 39 buses, for once Paul Grainger more or less had the evening off, likewise Dean Stockdale and Tim Johnston. Funny business, eh? Right, ten minutes 'til closing time. Dean, King, Stan, John Pope and a few others set off on a raucous Caravan. Ten minutes later they'd blown their socks off. The next Black Swan jam session will be on Tuesday 21 December and the first one next year will be on Tuesday 11 January, seven thirty start. There'll be some festive season cobwebs to dust off. Let's see who arrives on the no. 39, it should be a good one.    

         

* Edgar and Oscar have got themselves a Jazz Co-op gig on January 9 when they'll be appearing with saxophonist Sam Toulson. Russell    

     

Dean Stockdale (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums) + (more or less in order of appearance) Niffi Osiyemi (vocals); Stan Woodward (bass); King David Ike-Elechi (drums); Ifedi Osiyemi (bass); Andy Lawrenson (violin, vocals); Edgar Ho (piano); Oscar Ho (double bass); Bailey ? (drums); Steve ? (bass); George ? (bass); John Pope (double bass); David Gray (trombone, vocals); Murray Wankling (piano); Michael Mather (drums); Alex ? (bass); Jan Spencelayh (vocals)