The Classic Jazz Party: Saturday evening @ the Village Hotel, North Tyneside - Nov. 2

The early evening Piano Professor slot has become a tradition at the Village Hotel. As CJP attendees return from dinner, one of the pianists engaged to perform across the long weekend is afforded a half hour showcase to play a selection of numbers of their choosing. This evening's 'professor', Ulf Johansson Werre, presented a mix of rag to swing numbers.

Josephine Baker singing in French, rather, Nicolle Rochelle singing in French, held a full house spellbound. Living and working in Paris, Rochelle brings something of early twentieth century Paris to the party, that's the Classic Jazz Party. David Boeddinghaus has proven to be the ideal accompanist to Ms Rochelle, here at the Village Hotel and elsewhere, not least the French capital. On this session Rochelle and Boeddinghaus were joined by seven other top class musicians including Rico Tomasso (trumpet), Emma Fisk (violin) and Phil Rutherford (tuba), the latter two hailing from these here parts. Spellbound we were, a non-jazz audience would be similarly captivated. A winning set.   

After the Armistice - Jass in London 1919-1923 If Nick Ball had been around a century ago he would have been quite at home, comfortably so. A student of the 'classic jazz' era, percussionist Ball examined the post-WWI London jazz scene. If Paris was the epicentre of the European jazz scene, Ball set out to show London had much to offer. Ball, the Americans Mike Davis (cornet) and Charlie Halloran (trombone) and the Brits - Michael McQuaid (Aussie McQuaid an adopted Brit) and Richard Exall (reeds) and Martin Wheatley playing banjo and banjoline and Emma Fisk (violin) - made for a strong home contingent.    

A Centenary Celebration: The Wolverines Bix time! The Wolverines' recordings featuring Bix Beiderbecke are tailormade for Andy Schumm. Chicagoan Schumm, cornet in hand, led a stonking set with a suitably stonking line-up - Michael McQuaid and Natalie Scharf (reeds), David Boeddinghaus (piano), Martin Wheatley (banjo), Phil Rutherford (tuba) and the mighty Josh Duffee (drums). The icing on the cake was the 2024 Young Talent Award winner Gavin Rice joining the ensemble to play banjo. Not any old banjo mind you, rather the actual instrument Bobby Gillette used on the Wolverines' recordings! Quite a moment!*       

A Rhythmic Dream: Fletcher Henderson 1927-1930 Long before this year's CJP programme went to print, Saturday evening's Fletcher Henderson set stood out as one of the 'must hear' concerts of the weekend. The man from Davenport, Iowa, Josh Duffee revelled in conducting the band, delegating the lion's share of the drum parts to his good friend Nick Ball. Messrs. Tomasso, Kellso and Kubban vied for the hottest trumpet on the stand, Graham Hughes and Charlie Halloran the 'bones, Frenchman Jean-François Bonnel, Italian Lorenzo Baldasso and Chicagoan Andy Schumm the reeds, and a cookin' rhythm section comprising Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, vocals), Phil Rutherford (tuba) and, of course, Nick Ball. The one hour set flew by, the jazz searingly hot, what a session! The second of three late night jam sessions would follow. This way to the bar..           

* See photo: Gavin Rice pictured earlier, alongside Michael Laing. Gavin graciously allowed Michael to hold the priceless 'Bobby Gillette' instrument. Russell