The sun shone, Easter tourists were out in force, Durham looking a picture on World Heritage Day. Up on Palace Green there was plenty of action. A free admission, self-guided tour of Durham Castle encouraged a queue to form and across the way in the shadow of Durham Cathedral, bands - jazz and non-jazz - were playing half hour sets to a large, receptive audience.
Afrobeat, New Orleans' street band, hip hop, dance floor grooves, all delivered with boundless energy, Dilutey Juice (double concentrate) is your festival/party band of choice.
In marked contrast, but no less entertaining, Gavin Lee's Dixieland Jazz Band played a no nonsense set of, well, Dixieland jazz. Lee, clarinet, a man of few words, speaking as and when required (The next tune is etc), sat alongside seen-and-heard-it-all-before trombonist Don Fairley in a two-horn front line. Out the back, in the shade of the stage awning, the piano, bass and drums boys, including the inestimable string bassist John Robinson, did the necessary. Signing off with Sweet Georgia Brown, Gavin Lee and co. kept the jazz flag flying in the Land of the Prince Bishops. Russell
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