The Tenement Jazz Band @ Prohibition Bar - April 24

Charles Dearness (trumpet); Paddy Darley (trombone); Steven Feast (tenor sax, clarinet); John Youngs (banjo, vocals); Rory Clark (sousaphone)

John Youngs joked that the Tenements play Prohibition Bar more often than they play gigs in their home town of Edinburgh. The band's latest cross border raid (as far south as Dove Holes in Derbyshire) included an impromptu Sunday lunchtime street performance on Framwellgate Bridge in Durham prior to this early evening gig in Newcastle (finishing early enough to see them home by midnight).

The Tenement Jazz Band didn't bargain on a ragtime piano support act but that's what they - and the audience - got. A punter, minding his own business, sat down at the house upright and began to play some ragtime numbers. Winning a round of applause, our pianist was joined by the Tenements' John Youngs to play a couple of tunes together. A marvellous start to the evening! 

The Tenements would play three sets, some old tunes, some new tunes, playing as if in their own parlour, playing for themselves. Of course they knew some of Tyneside's swing dancers were in the house and, first number, they took to the floor. A whole bundle of rags (Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver), a slew of popular songs of the day, some killer tempo workouts (Snake Rag, Big Chief Battle Axe), a request for Bouncin' Around and an unexpected Out of Nowhere (John Youngs taking the vocal), the Tenement Jazz Band is one helluva band! 

Five guys named...the Tenement Jazz Band, easy-going, enjoying one another's company, engaging the audience, the musicianship casually, deceptively top drawer. Trumpeter Charles Dearness right on the money, one-time Prohibition Bar employee Paddy Darley a fine trombone player, the senior man, Mr Steven Feast, hot on clarinet, dance band swing style on tenor sax, band MC John Youngs steering the paddle steamer, stoked by Rory Clark, a recent, excellent addition to the Edinburgh based band, playing sousaphone. Jazz club? Festival? Look no further, the Tenement Jazz Band is the band to book! Russell