The Black Swan jam session - Oct. 15

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Bailey Rudd (drums) + Niffi Osiyemi (vocals); Olly Styles (tenor sax); David Gray (trombone, vocals); Abbie Finn (drums); Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Lara Hopper (trumpet); Liam Oliver (guitar); Robert Johnson (alto sax); Alexia Gardner (vocals); Dan Potter (drums); Oscar Nolan (piano); Ian Drever (vocals); Esther Coombes (alto sax, clarinet); Neil Hopper (double bass); ? (guitar); Shayo (vocals); Jack ? (drums); Becky Tuck (vocals); Moyo (guitar); Darius (vocals); Theo Nolan (drums)

Freshers' week has been and gone, student hangovers a thing of the past...until the next time. Judging by the large student turn out at last night's Black Swan jam session, with the bar staff working non-stop, this morning it's likely the cry 'never again' will be heard across student halls of residence. 

The house trio got things underway with an appropriate Autumn Leaves. Messrs. Law, Grainger and Rudd offered up Love for Sale before the first of the of the evening's many guests joined the party. Step forward, Ms Niffi Osiyemi. I Love Being Here with You sang Niffi followed by the tongue-twisting Orange Colored Sky.* The full house roared its approval, Niffi had set a high bar. Athletic types that they are, Olly Styles (tenor sax) and David Gray (trombone and vocals) leapt up, keen to show what they could do. A regulation Four (no fours) then a real surprise, Styles taking There'll Never Be Another You at a slow tempo. Excellent! Let's here this one again, Olly. 

From here on in we were treated to a succession of top-notchers: Abbie Finn and Harry Keeble and the not-yet-out-of-school duo of trumpeter Lara Hopper and alto saxophonist Robert Johnson (keep an eye - and ear - open for these marvellous young musicians) playing, variously, Ginger Bread Boy, I Remember Clifford and a whole lot more. Later, Keeble and Johnson would tear it up on Tenor Madness. 

From time to time a new name appears on the scene. The latest of them, making a first visit to the Black Swan, Ms. Alexia Gardner. Well-schooled and well-travelled (Switzerland, the Far East, NYC), Gardner knocked 'em dead singing Mo Better Blues.**  

Drummer Dan Potter is always a welcome face at the jam, similarly the Nolans (Oscar, this evening playing piano, Theo behind the traps). Guitarist Liam Oliver rarely, if ever, misses a session, ditto Esther Coombes (reeds) and  Ian 'Las Vegas' Drever. Shayo sang, Becky Tuck sang, Darius sang, Moyo played some guitar and Neil Hopper held the fort as MC P. Grainger did some networking. As the big hand ticked past half past the hour all horns left standing got up to blow (David Gray taking a vocal chorus) on an unusual choice for the 'outer', When You're Smiling. It had been a good night, the next one, put the date in your diary, is scheduled for Tuesday 5 November. It'll be a banger.             

* The Niffi Osiyemi Trio can be heard on Thursday evening on the Roker Riviera. Perched high above the Wear, the Harbour View is the place to catch Niffi, Alan Law and Paul Grainger. Note, the place gets very busy. If you want to bag a seat, arrive early - not unlike the Black Swan jam session!        

** The Alexia Gardner Quintet will be in concert at Newcastle Arts Centre on Thursday 26 November. You don't want to miss this one! Russell