House of the Black Gardenia @ 'Somewhere in Jesmond' - Feb. 1

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Elise Rana (vocals, washboard); Pete Tanton (trumpet); David Gray (trombone); Keith Robinson (reeds); Katja Roberts (violin); Elliott Rush (piano); Michael Littlefield (guitar, banjo, vocals); Neil Hopper (bass, sousaphone); Kit Haigh (drums)

The house was impressive, top end of six figures, inside it was wall to wall eating, drinking, dancing and goodness knows what else! Resplendent in his officers mess dress uniform (Guards?) mein host introduced the House of the Black Gardenia to the rapidly filling mini ballroom where the swing dancers were straining at the leash ready to strut their stuff and strut it they did - mein host leading the charge as his forebears may have done at Sebastopol.

Band and dancers were soon rhythmically connected. Saxist, singer Fiona Finden later commented that they were as one with each inspiring the other.

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You're Driving me Crazy opened the first set opened with vocals by Littlefield and Rana plus solos by Robinson and Tanton. All were in good form. Another HotBG favourite, One in a Million, followed with Elisa taking the vocal and solos by Robinson on tenor and Rush at the keyboard - given  the size of the house and the apparent opulence I'd have expected a Steinway at least - maybe it was in one of the other rooms.

Big Big Man had solos all round and again the ever swinging Elisa on vocal. After You Rascal You which had backing vocals by both band and dancers, Michael Littlefield sang Why? He plays a mean blues guitar, does some mighty fine banjo picking and has a voice that slots easily into the idiom.

The set closed with Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho but, before the walls came a-tumblin' down we heard the best version of I Wish I Could Shimmy Like my Sister Kate since the 1939 recording by Muggsy Spanier's Ragtimers. With Elise scrubbing the washboard and the hottest trumpet solo I've ever heard from Pete (normally he's on the Chet Baker side of the street) this really was something else.

Time to feed the inner man, chat with some of my high society acquaintances: " Have you heard about dear Blanche? Got run down by an avalanche." "No!" "She's a game girl, got up and finished fourth."

The second set opened instrumentally with The Mooche followed by Low Down Blues with a gutsy solo by David Gray particularly catching the mood. Elise introduced If You Don't Give me What I Want as being from the band's early days (back then she answered to the name of Bobbi Charleston) adding that Lance will probably remember it. I did and here's my review to prove it.

Michael was featured once again on Evenin' and I Can't Take it no Longer sandwiching Elise's Blue Drag. Both singers deserved the accolades bestowed upon them.

Violinist Katya, who'd earlier shone in a number described as Mazurka in Jazz

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which had reminded me of my days as a nine year old schoolboy struggling to play a simplified version of a Chopin mazurka transcribed for violin - Chopin won! - was featured on the traditional Otchi-Tchor-Ni-Ya (Dark Eyes) and the set concluded with Take a Look Outside.

Although there was a jam session to follow, it was time for the BSH contingent to leave. No liveried chauffeur, just the old family retainer (Nexus) to return us from whence we came. We all agreed that it had been a swell party with a great band who capture the essence of small group swing to perfection. Sir, you did your former regiment proud. Lance