Another classic swing session from Classic Swing who opened up with their signature tune - Tommy Moran's Classic Swing. Tommy was indisposed this week but, in true show biz tradition, the show went on.
Olive stepped up for her first vocal, that legendary W.C. Handy number Beale Street Blues. When Olive sang the line If Beale Street could talk, married men would have to take their beds and walk, one man did actually get up and start walking but maybe he was just looking to see if there was a wc handy.
Our gal followed this with How D'ya Like to Love me? A nice solo from Jim on clarinet and the only comparable version of this song that I've heard was by Maxine Sullivan although Bob Hope and Martha Raye didn't do bad either.
Jim picked up the mic for Louisiana sung as Louisian-i-ay. A Johnny Hodges' number, Sweeping the Blues Away, was followed by Take the A Train before Olive closed the set with When You're Smiling and on to the raffle which only left a few smiling. I was lucky as I won the prize of a ticket not to see Ed Sheeran tonight at the Stadium of Light (joke!).
After we'd dried our eyes post raffle the band were herded back on stage for Sweet Sue with Jim on vocal then Olive and David had a first time workout on the old Bessie Smith number Trombone Cholly. This was a showstopper that can only get even better!
A couple of instrumentals - Tangerine and In a Mellow Tone featured every man jack. Alan Marshall's measured tenor solos such a contrast to the zillion notes a minute guys - I think melodic is the word I'm looking for. David Gray has a foot in both camps - his playing as sharp as his new shoes and, on occasion, as gritty as some dirty old trainers.
Carl Peacock solos and comps, never missing a chord change, likewise Alan Rudd with the whole caboodle driven along by Tommy on drums.
Then there is Olive, who took it out with It's a Sin to Tell a Lie - tops!
Apart from the band, good to meet up with an old buddy from the days of the Newcastle Big Band - Cormac Loane. Lance
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