At noon on Friday That's a Plenty got things off to a fine start. By tradition the first concert proper is a Tribute to Mike (the late Mike Durham, who's name is above the door, ran the Whitley Bay Jazz Festival, forerunner to the Classic Jazz Party). His good friend Spats Langham did the honours, sharing the stage with CJP veterans (young and old), French trumpeter Malo Mazurié, Alistair Allan (trombone), from Italy, Mauro Porro (reeds), Martin Litton (at the Kawai grand), Londoner Richard Pite (tuba, string bass) and the man from Davenport, Iowa, Josh Duffee (drums). To a man, they all knew Mike, they all knew what this tribute was about.
Tribute to Mike would be the first of seven sets during the afternoon (throughout the weekend the turn-around time between sets would be minimal with musicians vacating/assuming their seats without a second to spare). Presented by Michael McQuaid, The NORK and their Circle surveyed the output of the New Orleans Rhythm Kings. Hot jazz, in a hot, if not stuffy, hall, performed by A-listers, including Chicagoan And Schumm (cornet), from N'Awlins, pianist David Boeddinghaus, from Milan, Lorenzo Baldasso (reeds) making his CJP debut, and local lad, Phil Rutherford (tuba). A terrific set!
Dan Barrett presented his Continental Connection taking a broad bush approach to 'neglected gems from the late 1920s and early 1930s'. Deed I Do a highlight, yes, indeed.
In from Portland, Oregon, pianist Andrew Oliver worked in trio format alongside David Horniblow (clarinet) and the ever-smiling period percussion specialist Nicholas D. Ball, their half-hour set examining Jelly Roll Morton's clarinet/piano/drums sides.
Trumpeter Malo Mazurié led an enticing-looking set...Dickie Wells Meets Django. Featuring Dan Barrett as Dickie Wells and Félix Hunot as Django Reinhardt (Mazurié, Norwegian Torstein Kubban and New Yorker Mike Davis, trumpets, the session focussed upon the 1937 meeting of the two giants of jazz.
Nicolle Rochelle (pictured) assumed the role of Eva Taylor in a set looking at the singer's relationship, musically and personally, with Clarence Williams (they were a married couple). Shout, Sister! Eva Taylor & Clarence Williams (the penultimate set of the afternoon) featured the principals and Malo Mazurié (trumpet), Graham Hughes (trombone), the reeds of Claus Jacobi and Matthias Seuffert, Martin Gunnar Larsen (piano), Spats Langham playing banjo and guitar with a vocal number, CJP favourite Malcolm Sked (tuba, string bass) and Nicholas (Nick) D. Ball (drums and washboard). Rochelle singing Baby Won't You Please Come Home? and Moanin' Low proved to be undoubted highlights.
To close a full afternoon of world class jazz, Mike Davis dedicated an hour to Stardust and Beyond - the Music of Hoagy Carmichael. A stage chock full of big hitters - including Messrs Barrett (trombone), McQuaid, Lorenzo Baldasso and Richard Exall (reeds) and virtuoso violinist Emma Fisk - delivered the goods. A set with a difference, Davis looked at Hoagy's actual recording sessions as opposed to his many, much-loved songs. It had been a fine first session. Russell
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