The 'Start Queueing Now' Black Swan jam session - March 19

Michael Young (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums) + Kate O'Niell (vocals); Adam Sams (guitar); Luis Verde (alto sax); Conor Emery (trombone); Niffi Osiyemi (vocals); Shivan Ruddick (trumpet); Abbie Finn (drums); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Jan Spencelayh (vocals); Alex Shipsey (bass guitar); Edgar Bell (cornet); Ian Drever (vocals); Owen Jones (double bass); Issie ? (vocals); Theo ? (drums); Paul Ruddick (alto sax); Esther Coombes (clarinet, alto sax); Becky Tuck (vocals); Remi Coulthard-Boardman (vocals); Patrick ? (drums)

The Beatles' Norwegian Wood opened proceedings, the house trio - Michael Young, Paul Grainger and Tim Johnston - setting the standard, the rest of evening much like the usual down at the Black Swan. Not quite...

It's a seven thirty start in the basement of Newcastle Arts Centre. Here's the weird thing, punters are turning up earlier and earlier. At a quarter to seven a queue began to form. It's not as if tickets are gold dust, after all, it's free admission, sit anywhere. As the doors opened the hordes descended. One regular, an exiled Cockney, looked on in disbelief as he clocked your correspondent sitting at a front row table. Cor blimey, how did you get in 'ere? Privileged access (not!), but that's another story. The real story is the Black Swan jam session is a success story.  

A top class house rhythm section, then, who knows? Familiar faces sat or stood around waiting to be called by MC Paul Grainger. Kate O'Niell got the nod, singing a selection including I Loves You, Porgy. Guitarist Adam Sams was in early, he too got the nod. The alto sax of Luis Verde and Conor Emery's trombone produced the evening's first highlight, their playing on It Don't Mean a Thing a joy to hear. Niffi Osiyemi was in the house - Get Happy sang Niffi, joined by young trumpeter Shivan Ruddick. Happy days.

The recently-shorn tenor saxophonist Harry Keeble cut a, well, a crew cut figure, right out of a '60s' late night Soho jazz joint. And as if to order, Dear Johnny B tore the roof off, Luis Verde keen to get another piece of the action. Brilliant, that's why we get along to the Black Swan. 

It had been a while since Jan Spencelayh made it down to Westgate Road. Good to see Jan, her take on At Last was right on the money. Excellent! There was more - Route 66 with Edgar Bell along for the ride. MC PG called up bassist Alex Shipsey (a luxury for PC, he could go to the bar!), great to see Alex back on the scene. And then there was Owen Jones, double bass, no less. 

Paul Ruddick is what you could call 'good value', No More Blues a feature for the likeable Baghdaddian, Esther Coombes first blowing clarinet then alto sax. It had been a busy old night, making a late entry, Becky Tuck and Remi Coulthard-Boardman singing and swaying on...Sway! The Black Swan jam session, it's the one you dare not miss. The next installment is on Tuesday 2nd April, the house trio comprising Dean Stockdale, Paul Grainger and Abbie Finn. Start queueing now. Russell