The Good Times Rolled at the Black Swan Jam last night - Sept. 6

James Harrison (keys/drums/daft carry on); Paul Grainger (bass); Tom Chapman (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Esther Coombes (alto sax/clarinet); Haaruun Miller (alto/sop sax); Nigel Greenwood (alto sax); David Gray (trombone/vocals); Edgar Bell (cornet); Ben Phillips (keys); Alex Shipsey (bass guitar); ? (guitar); Felix Parkin-Christie, Kris Finney, Abbie Finn (drums); Ian Drever, Niffi Osiyemi, Paul Skerritt, Sheila Herrick (vocals) - there may have been more...

Nobody sleeps when James Harrison's on board! He plays every number as if it's the grand finale. He sits, he stands, he jumps up and down and, if he had a hat he'd be pulling rabbits out by the dozen! OTT? Most definitely. However, in between all these outrageous antics (which included a drum duet) he plays some mighty fine piano and it has to be said his playing inspired some of tonight's jammers to reach their highest level ever.

As can be seen from the cast of thousands listed above a blow by blow account of each and every one would make War and Peace seem like an editorial in the Shields Gazette so, rather than offend by omission, I won't... except to say that the final blast with Niffi and Paul (Skerritt) duking it out on Let the Good Times Roll with the horns riffing was memorable to say the least. Also, Sheila's additional lyrics to Every Day I Have the Blues gave the number a new dimension and Ben Phillips' Night and Day offered a sobering contrast to James' pianistics. David Gray was in actual fact nicknamed 'Showtime' by James which, upon reflection, was a case of the kettle calling the frying pan. David is fast becoming as renowned a vocalist as he is a slideman as he proved on Misty.

Ed Bell raised his game on the final jam, Esther is rapidly becoming a contender on both alto and gobbo, Felix listens and learns, Nigel played Come Sunday (on Tuesday), Harry gets Tubbier (as in Hayes) every session, Haaruun blew fine alto and did ok on soprano. Nice to see Alex on bass guitar - it's been awhile - Ian Drever threatened to shatter the crystal ball but, after the knobs were twiddled, the balance was better for One For my Baby. As well as Felix, Tom, Kris and Abbie ensured that the ship stayed afloat. 

Good to see some new faces as well as some - I won't say older - others such as James' parents. It was a grand night and, as always, a big thank you to Paul Grainger for keeping the jam going - Lance.

PHOTOS (by Lance unless otherwise stated).