On A Foggy Day/Night (in Newcastle Town), it was odds on the Black Swan would be all but deserted. It's Coming Home England on the telly, why bother to venture out? Game over. Not quite! As the house trio - Alan Law, Paul Grainger and Rob Walker - got things under way, the best jam session in town attracted a near capacity audience. One of the musicians intent on sitting-in commented on the age profile of the audience, in essence, a remarkably young crowd.
Victor Feldman (Azul Serape), George Gershwin (The Man I Love) and Cole Porter (You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To) opened the show, on this evidence, what a show it promised to be. Pianist Alan Law in sensational form, Messrs P. Grainger and R. Walker right there with him, smiles exchanged, tremendous, all before the first of the massing sitters-in joined the party. And the first of them, Steve Summers blowing tenor (later curved soprano), hit the ground running with a knockout blues. Follow that! MC PG invited alto saxophonist Cormac Loane, on a visit to the region from his Midlands base, to do just that. And, what do you know, he did just that on an excellent take on On Green Dolphin Street. Summers and Loane go way back and it was great to see/hear them having fun blowing chorus upon chorus. MC PG knows how to keep things moving and in no time Tom Baxter (trombone) was on board, likewise guitarist Adam Sams.
Mollie Birmingham sang Nature Boy. Presence, poise, voice, note the name, we have yet another talent in our midst. If Andrea Harris is in the house, accompanied by Lisa Delarny (guitar), you're guaranteed some top class singing. What a Difference a Day Made with a bossa feel left the packed out room in no doubt, Ms Harris is, quite simply, top class. Haaruun Miller, in Coltrane Impressions mode, led a large ensemble, prompting PG to dub it the Haaruun Miller Nonet. A nine piece had nothing on the finale. At least fourteen were up blowing, all excellent. The Black Swan jam session is the one you cannot afford to miss! Russell
Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Rob Walker (drums) + in some semblance of order of appearance: Steve Summers (tenor sax, soprano sax); Cormac Loane (alto sax); Tom Baxter (trombone); Mollie Birmingham (vocals); James Watkins (bass); Adam Sams (guitar); Kris Finney (drums); Michael Mather (drums); Murray Wankling (piano); Haaruun Miller (soprano sax); Katrina (vocals); Ian Drever (vocals); Andrea Harris (vocals); Lisa Delarny (guitar); Ray Burns (harmonica); Martha (vocals); John Pope (double bass); Edgar Bell (trumpet); David Gray (trombone); Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Josh (drums); Martin (vocals)
1 comment :
An outstanding evening! High energy, exceptional performances and what an ambience. Can't wait for the next one! Thanks to all for a fabulous evening of live music.
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