A Xmas Black Swan jam session - Dec. 17

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Shayo (vocals); Paul Ruddick (alto sax); Shivan Ruddick (trumpet); David Pipkin (drums); Liam Oliver (guitar); Bailey Rudd (drums); Kate O'Niell (vocals); Robert Johnson (alto sax); Ian Drever (vocals); Jan Spencelayh (vocals); Lisa ? (vocals); Edgar Bell (trumpet); Esther Coombes (alto sax, clarinet); Theo Nolan (drums); Tom ? (drums); Becky Tuck (vocals); Ruth Lambert (vocals); Pete Tanton (trumpet); Jessica ? (piano); ? (vocals); David Gray (trombone)

Glittery tops and Xmas jumpers were worn by some, others couldn't be bothered - bah humbug! What mattered was the jazz and the Black Swan was as busy as ever. The house trio got things underway with But Not for Me. Excellent. Drummer Abbie Finn sported a relatively restrained Xmas jumper, Messrs. Law and Grainger the more soberly attired. The final jam session of the year was up and running.  

First to be given the nod - Harry Keeble and Jacob Egglestone. The boys gave Yardbird Suite a good workout. Shayo sang Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise, the Ruddicks made it to the final jam of the year and were joined by drummer David Pipkin (of STAN the Band fame). A good friend to the Black Swan is drummer Bailey Rudd and it was good to see him before the Christmas break. Up from Teesside, Kate O'Neill. Vocalist Kate is a keen supporter of the Westgate Road jam session, this evening signing Blue Moon. 

It had been a while since Jan Spencelayh made it to the jam. What would she sing? Cheek to Cheek - a good choice. Harry K accompanied Jan on Moondance, MC Paul Grainger's bass walking them through it. Lisa sang, Ian Drever sang, Esther Coombes chipped in on alto and clarinet, Becky Tuck singing Santa Baby reminded us that the 'Big Day' isn't far away, Robert Johnson, this week on alto sax, has become accustomed to how it works here at the Black Swan, we'll see - and hear - more of him, that's for sure.

An ailing David Gray arrived late on. A croaky throat precluded any vocals, Showtime opting to stick with his primary instrument - trombone. And on the subject of late arrivals...none other than Mr Pete Tanton and Ms Ruth Lambert arrived in time to join the party. Their presence guaranteed a grand finale. MC Grainger assembled 'Horns-a-Plenty' (every horn player left standing) as Ruth launched into Chris Smither's Love Me Like a Man (Bonnie Raitt laying claim to the best known, indeed best version of the tune). Thanks to Ruth and Pete, the final jam session of 2024 turned out to be one to remember. Russell