The midsummer Black Swan jam session - June 20

A day of torrential rain gave way to a pleasantly warm summer's evening. Would the students be gone for the summer? Would others opt for a back garden BBQ? Would anyone make the effort to go into town for the Black Swan jam session? The answer to the latter question was emphatically YES! In no time at all the Newcastle Arts Centre's basement venue was doing good business. Long time jam session supporters bagged their favourite seats, new faces - a surprising number of them - took a pew wherever they could. Welcome to the best free show in town! 

The house trio - Messrs Law, Grainger and Johnston - kicked off with a breezy Summer Wind. John Rowland blowing tenor - the man is Hawkins, Webster and more - took us back to the thirties. The Lady is a Tramp and A Foggy Day in London Town received the Ian Drever treatment, the word 'bold' springs to mind. Speaking of bold, upfront performance, step forward Kate O'Neill. The Man I Love and a wrought In My Solitude were more than a match for Mr D, the latter number featuring Luis Verde on alto and Esther Coombes on clarinet. 

Bop charts are a staple of the Black Swan jam sessions and Luis and Esther were joined by Alex Shipsey playing double bass (later in the evening switching to bass guitar) and the ever-reliable Kris Finney behind the kit. David Gray was in the house, as was Stu Collingwood (Alan Law happily vacating the piano stool) and, long-time-no-see Minnie Fraser, Goody, Goody sang Minnie. And another singer, Cath Stephens, sang Skylark and Monk's wonderfully quirky Well, You Needn't. Good stuff from Minnie and Cath.

The graduate boys were in the house - Jacob Egglestone and Bailey Rudd. Over the last couple of years the Newcastle University lads have made excellent contributions to the jam session. Good on them for continuing to support the night. Owen Jones sat in on bass allowing Mr PG (our MC) the opportunity to get to the bar for a well-earned pint. Kayleigh (apologies if the spelling isn't correct!) sang Norah Jones' big hit Don't Know Why, accompanied by the singers' accompanist, Mr Alan Law. 

Bop numbers never fail to fill the floor - Law, Egglestone, Jones, drummer Freddie Richards, Verde, Showtime, later MC Mr PG and, muscling in on the act, Edgar Bell, all blowing on Night in Tunisia. Ah, Ray Burns called Masquerade, Ah, Niffi, that's Niffi Osiyemi, declared: I'm Beginning to See the Light and, before we knew it, it was all hands on deck for the closer, Let the Good Times Roll. To quote MC Grainger: It's always this good. And it is, the next session is scheduled for Tuesday 4 July (7:30pm prompt). The 4th of July! Will any Americans show? Get along to find out. Russell                     

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums) + John Rowland (tenor sax); Ian Drever (vocals); Kate O'Neill (vocals); Luis Verde (alto sax); Esther Coombes (clarinet, alto sax); Kris Finney (drums); Alex Shipsey (double bass, bass guitar); Liam (guitar); David Gray (trombone); Minnie Fraser (vocals); Stu Collingwood (piano); Cath Stephens (vocals); Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Owen Jones (double bass); Bailey Rudd (drums); Kayleigh (vocals); Edgar Bell (trumpet); Freddie Richards (drums); Ray Burns (harmonica, vocals); Remi (guitar); Niffi Osiyemi (vocals)