The River City Hot Six @ Blaydon Jazz Club - Oct. 16

(© Roly Veitch)

Gordon Solomon (trombone); Bob Wade (trumpet, cornet, clarinet); Steve Andrews (tenor sax, clarinet); Keith Stephen (banjo); Phil Rutherford (sousaphone); Scott Adair (drums, vocals)

The River City Hot Six is a band of some pedigree playing occasional jazz club engagements and making the odd festival appearance here and there. This evening at the Black Bull pub on Bridge Street, Blaydon, bandleader Gordon Solomon arrived in good time to see for himself the recently-revamped lounge slowly but surely filling up ahead of the eight o'clock down beat. As the Hot Six opened with Girl of My Dreams the room was nigh on full. A heartening sight indeed. 

Some of those who heard the legendary River City Jazzmen way back when made the effort to get along and they weren't to be disappointed. Royal Garden Blues, Tishomingo Blues, (Keith Stephen banjo solo), applause rang out. Yes, Solomon and the boys have still got it! To trombonist Solomon's right, Bob Wade (trumpet, cornet, clarinet) and to his right, all the way from Cumbria, long-time friend to Blaydon Jazz Club, Steve Andrews (tenor sax, clarinet). Quite a frontline! The 'boys' in the engine room have been round the block a couple of times - Mr Keith Stephen, banjo, Mr Phil Rutherford, sousaphone, and Mr Scott 'Scotty' Adair. Timekeepers all, yes, the Hot Six is quite some band.

Drummer Adair sang It Don't Mean a Thing (it sure don't), banjo virtuoso Stephen featured on Ain't Misbehavin'  and, before we knew it, Indiana took us up to the interval.

(© Roly Veitch)

Blaydon Jazz Club is one of the friendliest clubs you're likely to find. It's been this way for the best part of forty years. A natter (the consensus being it was canny night, alright), another pint (Corby Stout, 4.5%, Great Corby Brewhouse), and before long the Hot Six returned to the stage, kicking off with a terrific Limehouse Blues. Bob Wade picked up his liquorice stick to join Steve Andrews on Creole Love Call (Andrews expertly playing the tricky stuff). Some of These Days followed, a good ensemble piece. When You're Smiling (Adair supplying the vocals), a clarinet feature for Mr Andrews on High Society (Andrews asking the audience to: Pray for us), it went down rather well. It was just about time to go, lets fly down to New Orleans to enjoy a Bourbon Street Parade. It had been a grand occasion, many thanks to the River City Hot Six.    

Post-pandemic many jazz clubs struggled, some continue to struggle, sadly some have folded. Here at the Black Bull, after some touch-and-go moments, things are looking up. Attendances are beginning to pick up. Onward and upwards, next month (Monday 20 November) Blaydon Jazz Club presents the award-winning drummer Abbie Finn with her all-star Finntet. See you there! Russell