The Black Swan jam session - August 1

The first day of August, blazing hot weather (not), schools out, students backpacking across the globe, would anyone turn out for this evening's Black Swan jam session? As the doors opened at seven o'clock the rain just about held off and by the half past the hour the usual faces had taken their seats, one or two newcomers too. 

Ben Phillips, Paul Grainger and Mark Robertson opened the show with two or three tunes - Solar, Night and Day, Stellar by Starlight - before opening the floor to whoever fancied doing their thing. Front row Kate O'Neill threw in her metaphorical hat, singing a couple including My One and Only Love. 

It had been a while since Paul Ruddick ventured down the stairs to the Black Swan jam. This evening our alto saxophonist brought along young Shivan Ruddick, a trumpeter in the making. Ruddick Snr. called Roland Kirk's Serenade to a Cuckoo. Now there's a tune! Considering this was Shivan's jam session debut he did more than alright - one to watch.

In marked contrast, in his own inimitable style, jam session veteran Ian Drever sang Somewhere Over the Rainbow. The Newcastle Arts Centre's foundations remained intact, but only just. Our singer's second offering - The Lady is a Tramp - benefitted from some blistering trumpet playing from occasional jam session participant Michael Lamb. Paul Gowland, blowing alto, opted to play Bill Evans' Very Early. House pianist Ben Phillips didn't know the number, you'd never have guessed - a real pro is Mr P.  

An interlude of sorts...with the absence of a depping bass player, Paul Grainger welcomed the opportunity to take five, introducing a cameo performance by neo-soul singer Georgia May. Our self-styled 'Nigeordian' (Nigerian Geordie!), accompanied by pianist Daps, this was something a little different. Daps solo piano rendition of Misty silenced the room, a rare occurrence in itself, a special moment.

Another bottle of Rivet Catcher, strangely, your correspondent's note-taking became all the more indecipherable. They were queuing up - the Harrison Brothers (guitarists Charles and Laurence), pianist Alon Dagon, graduate drummer Bailey Rudd (the personable Rudd is staying on in the region to undertake MA studies), Haaruun Miller on tenor, there may have been others. Twenty minutes to go, MC Grainger thought there was time to fit in two more. Best laid plans...all got up, off they went blowing on Impressions. Big solos and (with all dropping out) a magnificent, eyeballs-out exchange between Laurence Harrison and Mark Robertson. 

Not only is the Black Swan jam session the best free show in town, it's the jam session you dare not miss!  Russell                  

Ben Phillips (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Mark Robertson (drums) + (more or less in order of appearance) Kate O'Niell (vocals); Paul Ruddick (alto sax); Shivan Ruddick (trumpet); Kris Finney (drums); Ian Drever (vocals); Michael Lamb (trumpet); Paul Gowland (alto sax); Georgia May (vocals); Daps (piano); Charles Harrison (guitar); Alon Dagan (piano); Bailey Ruud (drums); David Gray (trombone, vocals); Edgar Bell (trumpet); Ray Burns (harmonica); Haaruun Miller (tenor sax); Laurence Harrison (guitar)