Olive
Rudd (vocals); Jim McBriarty (alto sax, soprano sax, clarinet, vocals); Alan
Marshall (tenor sax, clarinet); David Gray (trombone); Carl Peacock
(keyboards); Alan Rudd (double bass); Ian Stocks (drums)
It seems like spring has sprung. Blue skies over Tyneside, the North Sea becalmed, happy days. The Crescent Club, the club on Cullercoats bay, looked a picture, this being Easter weekend it remained to be seen if audience numbers would hold up at Classic Swing's weekly Friday residency. A pint of Whapweasel, a food order placed, let's take a seat.
As always
Tommy Moran's classic Classic Swing opened the show. A couple of deps in this week -
David Gray and Carl Peacock - made little or no difference, the sextet hitting
the ground running. Looking around the room, it was pleasing to see many seats
occupied, just like any other week. Jim McBriarty (clarinet, alto and soprano
saxophones at his feet) sang the first of several numbers, Sweet Sue. The band's main vocalist, Olive Rudd, joined
the boys to sing the first of her numbers for the day - Only Trust Your Heart - ably supported by the engine
room boys, Messrs Peacock, Rudd and Stocks.
An instrumental Rosetta (McBriarty, soprano sax), Satin Doll, before Olive returned to close the first set singing It's a Sin to Tell a Lie.
The interval, another pint of Whapweasel, a sheaf of raffle tickets, no fewer than eleven prizes, what's the odds? A few minutes later a scrunched up sheaf of raffle tickets told a tale.
Second set, more Classic Swing,
leading off, Perdido. McBriarty, clarinet in hand, sang Strike
Up the Band. Not to be left out, Olive joined the boys once more, first
singing Baby Won't You Please Come Home followed by a swinging
take on When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves for Alabama (that's
Alabam, Ma'am) backed by McBriarty and his frontline partners Alan Marshall and
a restrained David Gray. A dangerously modern Blue Bossa crept
into the set list (no one seemed to mind) before the band returned to more
familiar material (familiar to the Crescent Club regulars) with Mama's
Gone, Goodbye (c. 1924). The three o'clock finish was fast
approaching. The Best Things in Life Are Free sang Olive. Yes,
perhaps they are. Russell
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