A wet 'n' wild Boxing Day afternoon, seahorses rearing their heads out on the North Sea, St Mary's Lighthouse barely visible in the distance, just the kind of day to call into Spanish City to catch the Vieux Carré Hot 4, on parade as usual on a Sunday. A warming Americano, an English Breakfast Tea, a slice of coffee and walnut cake, the first of three sets opened with Jim McBriarty (clarinet, alto sax, vocals) singing I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby.
Boaters and bow ties, seated for the most part, Messrs McBriarty and Gray (David, trombone) shared the vocal duties, Messrs Bennett (Brian, banjo) and Grainger (Paul, string bass), keepers of the rhythm. MD Bennett revealed PG was up and about at 5:30 this morning digging himself out of his North Yorks Moors snowed-in location. Dedicated to the Vieux Carré cause, our man made it to Whitley Bay in good time for the noon start. Saluting his efforts, the Hot 4, with 'bone man Gray singing, played Let it Snow!
This being the season to be imbibing, McBriarty sang of The Alcoholic Blues, Mr McB confessing he had one or two yesterday! Didn't we all?! Last night, the VCH4's latest recruit, David Gray, watched the Morecambe and Wise 'lost tape' television show. Didn't we all? Suitably impressed with Kenny Ball's trombone player, John Bennett, DG wanted to sing Someday You'll be Sorry. The ever-obliging Brian (no relation) Bennett gave him the go ahead. One gets the impression Showtime is getting a taste for the material!
The Hot 4's Spanish City residency sees them move from location to location. A first set in Valerie's Tearoom, then onto Trenchers' Restaurant and finally, the first floor Champagne Bar with its panoramic views across the North Sea. A short-ish second set accompanying diners tucking into award-winning fish and chips, then the band moved into the Champagne Bar. A bottle of Doom Bar rather than a glass of champers, a share of a cheese scone, yes, this is the good life, alright! Trombonist Gray wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to Christmas, singing Winter Wonderland. Jingle bells, jingle bells. It'll soon be Christmas (2022).
Leaden skies, a wholly dreich day, the Vieux Carré were just about ready to pack up for the day, but not before DG sang one more (Hesitating Blues) and Jim McBriarty rounded off an entertaining session singing a good old good one, from 1919, Alice Blue Gown. The Vieux Carré Hot 4 will be back next Sunday (Jan 2) and, before then, they'll be at Spanish City for a New Year's Day session. A bracing walk along the seafront, arriving at the landmark Whitley Bay building in time for a noon start, call it a good start to 2022. Russell
No comments :
Post a Comment