Stu Collingwood (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Bailey Rudd (drums) + Paul 'Birthday Boy' Gowland (alto sax); Kate O'Neill (vocals); Alex Shipsey (bass guitar); Joe Steels (guitar); Josh Weir (drums); John Rowland (tenor sax); Becky Tuck (vocals); Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Owen Jones (double bass); Eva Fox (vocals); David Gray (trombone, piano, vocals); Katrina Miller (vocals); ? (vocals); Edgar Bell (cornet); Hugh ? (drums); Jamie Watkins (bass guitar); Joe ? (drums); Molly Birmingham (vocals); Remi Coulthard-Boardman (vocals); Conor Emery (trombone); Esther Coombes (clarinet, alto sax)
Overnight Tuesday/Wednesday, Newcastle Airport recorded a temperature of minus 7°. This Tuesday evening Newcastle Arts Centre's basement Black Swan venue couldn't have been far behind, 'cold' isn't the word. Did it deter the regulars? Did it deter a multitude of sitters-in? Nope! They turned out in numbers, many new faces too.
The house trio - Stu Collingwood, Paul Grainger, Bailey Rudd - opened the show playing two or three numbers to warm up, literally warm up! Days of Wine and Roses, a million and one notes One Note Samba followed by Embraceable You (Collingwood on top form, Grainger soloing, Rudd brushing to great effect).
Sufficiently warmed up, it was time to invite front row habitué, Kate O'Neill, to sing a couple of numbers. O'Neill and a host of others were supported by some top-notchers, variously John Rowland (tenor sax), Joe Steels (guitar), Alex Shipsey (bass guitar) and drummer Josh Weir. Rowland's numbers included On Green Dolphin Street (Rowland impressing, Joe Steels more than impressive).
Becky Tuck was in the house. A distinctive take on My Funny Valentine won applause (guitar accompanist Jacob Egglestone making a wonderful contribution) and before we knew it the merry go round whirled ever faster. A blizzard of sitters-in came and went: David Gray (at one point sporting furry headgear not unlike Leonid Brezhnev, prompting one wag to suggest: David needs a haircut!) picking out a few chords on the house piano and singing, in duet with Eva Fox, a fun It Had to Be You, Katrina Miller (catch Katrina singing at Prohibition Bar on Thursday evening), Molly Birmingham (an amazing Nature Boy) and a male vocalist making a big impression with his take on You Don't Know Me. His name? Remi Coulthard-Boardman. We'll be hearing more from Remi, that's for sure.
The blizzard threatened to become a white-out, they were coming thick and fast. MC Paul Grainger's stage management ensured an endless succession of participants got their chance to show what they could do. And still they kept on coming, the pick of the bunch, trombonist Conor Emery. Young Conor hung around for the finale (the Esther Coombes' Experience), a swinging, crazy, all-hands-on-deck, of a rollercoaster Caravan. And last, but by no means least, take a bow birthday boy, alto saxophonist, Mr Paul Gowland. It had been one of those nights. Russell
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