Subway from West 44th (Birdland) down to West 10th. A Monday night at the Village Vanguard means one thing, twice nightly performances by one of NYC's finest big band outfits. Once upon a time it was the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra, for the last few decades, and a change of name along the way, it's been the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra.
Two shows every Monday night, year round, all of them advance sell outs. Tickets purchased in the UK, we booked for the second house. The West Village was busy, it's probably like this 365 days of the year. At around nine in the evening, as the first house was approaching its end, up on the street a queue began to form. Some time after nine, the first house came out, at half past we were making our way down the steps into one of the most famous jazz rooms on the planet. It's first come, first served to the seats. Sitting front row, we were close enough to tap pianist Adam Birnbaum on the shoulder...
Front row, the reeds, including Billy Drewes (alto sax), Rich Perry and Ralph Lalama (tenor saxophones), in the 'bones Jason Jackson and Robert Edwards, Douglas Purviance (bass 'bone), the trumpet section, Terell Stafford and Scott Wendholt among them. Wow! This was some band! Some seventy five minutes later they were done. Time had flown. We were sitting in the Village Vanguard, reluctant to leave. A pinch moment.
The next day would be one of contrasts: eating/drinking, shopping, sight-seeing (marvelling at the skyscrapers), then a dream trip out to Flushing Meadows and a second encounter with Louis Armstrong. Russell
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