It's becoming a thing - arriving at the Black Swan well before seven o'clock when the doors are scheduled to open. Punters old and new were in the queue. A queue at a jam session! Before the seven thirty start the place was more than busy. A while later, up on the street, Newcastle Arts Centre resorted to operating a 'one in, one out' policy. Who'd have thought it?!
The house trio - pianist Ben Phillips, bassist Paul Grainger and drummer Abbie Finn - set the standard with On Green Dolphin Street. One sensed it was going to be a good session.
Two or three tunes in, Harry Keeble got up to play a couple of numbers, In a Sentimental Mood an early highlight, that's for sure. The man of the moment, alto saxophonist Luis Verde, chipped in with a couple of numbers of his own, on There'll Never Be Another You flanked by Keeble and trumpeter Elliott Todd. Quite a line-up! The pace didn't let up all night. The Black Swan merry-go-round spun ever faster...young Lara Rana (one to watch) on trumpet with John Rowland on tenor for company, Jan Spencelayh singing, accompanied by Elliott Todd, guitarist Ben Helm and Alex Shipsey, bass (MC Grainger making a rare excursion to the bar), The singers were queuing up - Becky, Kate, Issie, Lisa, Ellen and others. A rare appearance by pianist Grace Alexander enabled Ben Phillips to 'take five', they were coming thick and fast. And then, to close, the man himself, Mr Paul Skerritt! Let the Good Times Roll - what else?! Entertainment with an upper case 'E', first rate jazz musicians, a welcoming venue, it's little wonder they're queueing at the door. The next Black Swan jam session is scheduled for Tuesday 21st, 7:30pm prompt. If you want a ringside seat for the best free show in town the best advice is...arrive early! Russell
Ben Phillips (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble, John Rowland (tenor sax); Luis Verde (alto sax); Jacob Egglestone, Ben Helm, Liam ?, ? (guitar); Lara Rana, Elliott Todd, Edgar Bell (trumpet); David Gray (trombone); Grace Alexander, ? (piano); Alex Shipsey (bass); Jamie Watkins, Owen Jones (double bass); Bailey Rudd, Freddie Richards, Josh ? (drums); Jan Spencelayh, Becky Tuck, ?, Kate O'Neill, Issie ?, Lisa ?, Ellen ?, Paul Skerritt, Ian Drever (vocals)
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