New Century Ragtime Orchestra @ Gosforth Civic Theatre - Mar. 23

Steve Andrews (MC, baritone sax, clarinet); Martin Litton (piano); Ed Cross (violin); Alistair Lord (trumpet, cornet); Dave Hignett (trumpet); Neville Hartley (trombone); Jim McBriarty (reeds, vocals); Alan Marshall (reeds); Gavin Lee (reeds); Keith Stephen (guitar, banjo); Phil Rutherford (tuba); Paul Smith (drums); Caroline Irwin (vocals) + Olivia (xylophone); Benjamin (alto sax)

The New Century Ragtime Orchestra is an occasional happening. Two or three performances a year constitutes a busy schedule. As and when the NCRO takes to the stage it pays to be there. This evening at Gosforth Civic Theatre the NCRO played to a full house and no one but no one left disappointed. GCT is a well appointed venue, in some ways an exemplar - level floor throughout, accessible to all and, from the musician's view point, there is a half-decent Yamaha upright piano on the premises. 

Occupying the piano stool this evening, all the way from Hay-on-Wye, master musician Martin Litton. A long-time friend of the NCRO, Litton arrived earlier in the day, later meeting up with Dave Kerr, Phil Rutherford and the rest of the band to run through one or two charts. MC Steve Andrews would guide the audience through the evening's programme with a string of witty observations/asides along the way. 

My Baby Just Cares for Me opened the show, The Ragtime Dance (as arranged by D. Kerr) followed, and onto Doin' the Frog. NCRO supporters old and new loved what they were hearing, quite simply, the band was on form. The presence of pianist Martin Litton added an extra touch of class, the horns were at the top of their game and the rhythm section - stalwart tuba maestro Phil Rutherford, Keith Stephen, switching between guitar and banjo, and pocket dynamo Paul Smith nailing the drum parts - gave a sterling (if partly hidden behind the frontline's gleaming brass) display. 

As the NCRO vacated the stage, pianist Martin Litton played a medley of tunes, the audience mesmerised by the elegance and dexterity on show. Digga Digga Doo, In a Mist...A-grade stuff. Stomp Your Stuff, Shakin' the Blues Away, vocalists Caroline Irwin and Jim McBriarty jousting on After You've Gone (all good fun), Litton's take on Fats Waller's Clothes Line Ballet, the variety on offer helped engage the audience throughout two full sets. Highlights were many, however, to single out one...Dave Hignett (trumpet) and Neville Hartley (trombone) playing Ain't Misbehavin' took the gold medal. 

Young musicians Olivia and Benjamin did themselves proud standing out front, showing few, if any, signs of nerves. Olivia, xylophone, playing beautifully on Whistling Rag and Benjamin playing alto sax on Autumn Leaves (Caroline Irwin singing). The New Century signed off in some style with Business in F (it was the business!), Marbles (arr. K. Nichols) and Goodbye Blues.  Russell