The Black Swan jamboree - April 5

Charles Harrison (guitar); John Pope (double bass); Paul Wight (drums) + (more or less in order of appearance) Laurence Harrison (guitar); Edgar Ho (piano); Sam Toulson (alto sax); Oscar Ho (double bass); David Gray (trombone, vocals); Michael Mather (drums); Mike (lap steel guitar); Harry Toulson (alto sax); Isaac Wilson (piano); Edgar Bell (cornet); Josh Mitchell-Rayner (piano); Stan Woodward (bass guitar); ? (drums); Kit Giroux (vocals).

It began Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise. A first time house trio comprising Charles Harrison, John Pope and Paul 'Sid' Wight opened sedately as the audience slowly, but surely, made its way down into the Black Swan cellar bar. Stella by Starlight, I Remember You, the foundation set for the evening. This being the end of term, most, if not all, student participants were conspicuous by their absence. However, it's a game of 'swings and roundabouts', the departed students were amply compensated by the return of two or three London-based music students, home 'up north' for a short break. 

And so it was that the returning students - Sam Toulson, Edgar Ho and Oscar Ho - made it one of those unmissable nights. Pianist Edgar called It Could Happen to You. Sam blowing amazing post bop alto sax, bassist Oscar in the 'as good as they come' category. Just think, you could have been at home in front of the telly watching someone baking a cake, repairing a leaking roof or planting spring bulbs...The indefatigable Showtime gave his usual full value performance, blowing 'bone and singing some recently acquired gems from his dabbling on the Dixieland scene - On the Sunny Side of the Street, for one. If David Gray is in the house you know it's gonna be good. 

Lap steel guitar isn't heard too often at a jam session. Come to think of it, has it ever been heard at a Jazz Cafe/Black Swan session? Thanks to Mike, albeit under-amplified, we heard some lap steel. Better still, a lap steel take on Naima! You couldn't make it up! The Knats' boys arrived, well, two of them at least. Pianist Josh Mitchell-Rayner and ace Jaco/Stanley funkmeister Stan Woodward, joined by keen cornet man Edgar Bell, Michael Mather spelling Sid and Showtime stoked it up on Milestones. Charles Harrison's brother Laurence, an equally fine guitarist, joined the party as Footprints received more of the Knats' treatment, these guys aren't short on chops! 

The twenteen crew must have suddenly felt like veterans when Isaac Wilson, all of fifteen, perhaps sixteen, occupied the piano stool. What a great player this lad is! Let's hope he keeps on turning up at the Black Swan. And then, seemingly the sole Newcastle University student in the house, Kit Giroux got up to sing James Shelton's Lilac Wine. Elkie Brooks had a huge hit with the number, however, Kit's reference point was Jeff Buckley's version. Those who were regular jam session attendees at the old Jazz Caff around the corner will never forget the occasion Nishla Smith silenced the room with her spell-binding take on Don't Explain. It won Smith a standing ovation. This evening Kit Giroux produced an amazing, impassioned performance. To coin a phrase, you could hear a pin drop, until an outbreak of thunderous applause. 

The next Black Swan jam session (April 19) house trio features another Harrison, the one-and-only James Harrison. Our pianist will be joined by the Main Man, bassist Paul Grainger, and Harrison's old mate, drummer Tom Chapman. Who else turns up is anyone's guess. And that's the beauty of these sessions, dare you miss out?! Russell