Jam Session @ the Black Swan - April 19

Mark Williams (guitar); Paul Grainger (bass); Tim Johnston (drums) + Harry Keeble, Alan Marshall, Johannes Dalhuijsen (tenor sax); Esther Coombes (alto sax/clarinet); David Gray (trombone/vocals); Edgar Bell (cornet); Jacob Ruusan-Pritchett (piano); Joe Steels, Jimi Savage (guitar); Michael Mather (drums); Jan Spencelayh, Niffi Osiyemi, Kit Giroux, David Gray, Conor ? (vocals)

Another whiz-bang jam with players, often flying by the seat of their pants as is the norm at jam sessions, popping up with such regularity and in various combinations that it was nigh impossible to keep track of who played what with whom!

Some were regulars, some irregulars and some were showing their face for the first time.

This last category included guitar guru and recording engineer Jimi Savage who was mega impressive - you had to be when Mark Williams was in the house trio! Another guitarist who emerged unscathed from the shadow of the the great man was Joe Steels.

Only one pianist tonight - Jacob Ruusan-Pritchett - a 19 year old who, after some initial hesitancy slotted in nicely and during a short interval played a very emotive Georgia on my Mind. Which Georgia was on his mind wasn't stated.

There were saxophones a plenty this week. No less than three tenors (no, not those three!) in the form of the ever present Harry Keeble who's even beginning to look like a young Tubby Hayes. Mainstay of the Customs House Big Band and Classic Swing, Alan Marshall and Johannes Dalhuijsen from Take it to the Bridge. All added their own distinguished degree of individuality. Esther Coombes offered contrast with her nicely paced solos on both alto and clarinet.

Edgar Bell blew cornet and Michael Mather spelled Tim Johnston back o' the kit.

Paul Grainger marshalled  the troops into platoons but once they set off it was invariably David Gray who took control triple tonguing and slipping and sliding around the Bb and F trombone. When not performing incredible feats of trombonology he sang words to Chick's 500 Miles High! 

Showtime wasn't the only chanter in the house. Jan sang Cry me a River, You Turned the Tables on me and At Last. Niffi, the Queen of Soul, or was it the Empress of the Blues reincarnated? shouted and hollered her way through 'Tain't Nobody's Business if I Do, a rather risqué blues and, Almost Like Being in Love. 

Giroux posed the question: Have You Met Miss Jones? and later confessed that he was Misty (and too much in love). Finally, another first timer: Conor (Conner?) sang Can't Help Lovin' That Man of Mine from the musical Showboat with, on this occasion, trombone by Showtime. 

Back in a fortnight - Lance