Musicians Unlimited will once again be opening the annual Great North Big Band Jazz Festival (March 4 - 6) and today's weekly session signalled the countdown to the event with just another six Sundays before the big day. Mark Toomey took his place in the reeds, Kieran Parnaby depped in the 'bones and, in the absence of Mick Shoulder, Jeremy McMurray occupied the piano stool to enable Gary Hadfield to cover bass guitar duties. Other than that, it was pretty much the regular squad on duty.
Spotlight solos fell to Bill Watson (trumpet), Sue Ferris (tenor sax and some flute) and pianist Jeremy McMurray with limited opportunities for Kieran Parnaby, Mark Toomey (bringing in Woodchopper's Ball on clarinet) and Gary Hadfield. Critic's Choice, as played by Buddy Rich, featured a terrific tenor solo by Ferris, perhaps the solo of the afternoon. Jan Spencelayh appeared for the first time this year to sing a few numbers including You Do Something to Me, I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm and a short and sweet He's a Tramp.
Mick Donnelly's Musicians Unlimited boasts a seemingly inexhaustible pad of big band tunes, it'll be interesting to hear the set list at the band's GNBBJF in concert performance at Chester le Street (March 4). Russell
Mick Donnelly (MD); Alan Catherall, Dave Harrison, Kevin Eland, Bill Watson (trumpets); John Day, Kieran Parnaby, Helen Grainger, Peter Morgan (trombones); Mark Toomey (alto sax, clarinet); Kim Skerritt (alto sax); Barbara Fagan (tenor sax); Sue Ferris (tenor sax, flute); Jill Nelson (baritone sax); Ian Bosworth (guitar); Jeremy McMurray (piano); Gary Hadfield (bass); John Bradford (drums); Ernie Jackson (percussion); Jan Spencelayh (vocals)
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