Classic Swing @ Cullercoats Crescent Club - Jan. 3

Jim McBriarty (alto/soprano sax, clarinet, vocals); Alan Marshall (tenor sax, clarinet); David Gray (trombone, vocals); Jeremy McMurray (piano); Alan Rudd (bass); Ian Stocks (drums); Olive Rudd (vocals)

Hell and high water, not to mention Metro disruptions and the threat of snow on the  horizon didn't stop Classic Swing's fanbase turning out for the first Friday session of 2025. The traumatic journey home was but a minor blip in a very enjoyable afternoon.*

Kicking off as per with their signature tune, Tommy Moran's eponymously titled Classic Swing, it soon became evident the band were 'up for it' with cutting solos all round.

Don't Get Around Much Anymore sang Jim McBriarty in between blowing the lead on alto and soloing on whichever instrument he chose from his armory.

It was a day for the vocalists to assert themselves and
next up was Olive who, over the course of the two sets, sang: Almost Like Being in Love, You Made me Love You, When the Midnight Choo Choo Leaves For Alabam, It's a Sin to Tell a Lie, The Best Things in Life Are Free, duetted with David Gray's atmospheric 'bone on Trombone Cholly and wrapped up the show with Doctor Jazz. 

Gray himself vocalised on Fly me to the Moon and a number, new to me, that was recorded by Dick Haymes with Harry James' band in 1940, Secrets in the Moonlight.

Jim McB had another vocal on I'll See You in my Dreams but the big hit of the afternoon was an instrumental - Freddy Johnson's Harlem Bound.

This really swung with great solos and beautiful harmonies. Could have been an Ellington small group.

Other instrumentals: Christopher Columbus and Tangerine.

Apart from the soloists, the rhythm section did their bit admirably. Ian Stocks, particularly impressive on brushes and Alan Rudd, as ever, solid on bass. His one solo, full-toned and resonant, had me thinking he should grab the limelight more often.

A lovely band that does what it sets out to do - swing in the classic style. Lance

*When it comes to public transport never make assumptions. I assumed that if a bus stops at a town's transport hub heading east it would stop at the same hub when heading west. The number 9 does but the number 1 doesn't! Still, this disruption was but a hill of beans in an otherwise enjoyable afternoon.