Laurence Harrison (guitar); Paul Grainger (double bass); Tim Johnston (drums) + Kate O'Niell (vocals); Paul Ruddick (alto sax); Robert Johnson (alto sax); Martin Waugh (piano); Jen Foster (vocals); Owen Jones (double bass); Shayo Oshodi (vocals); Shivan Ruddick (trumpet); Leah Kirk (vocals); Alec Gamble (guitar); ? (percussion); Liam Oliver (guitar); David Gray (trombone); Esther Coombes (alto sax, clarinet); Ian Drever (vocals); Paul Skerritt (vocals); Jamie Watkins (double bass); Katrina Miller (vocals); Ruth Lambert (vocals)
Spring is just around the corner. The Black Swan jam session continues to attract the regulars (sitting at their usual tables) and many new faces - where do they all come from? A questionnaire/survey is called for! The house trio usually comprises piano, bass and drums. This evening it was guitar, bass and drums.
Guitarist Laurence Harrison opened with Days of Wine and Roses, Paul Grainger, bass, to his left, Tim Johnston, drums, to jam session MC Grainger's left. As guitarists go, Laurence can hold his own with any six-stringer, quite simply, a fabulous musician. Solar radiated across the room, the trio nicely warmed up. From here on in it was the usual revolving door with the many sitters-in hoping to catch MC Grainger's eye.
Front row, Kate O'Niell stepped forward two paces to sing a couple of numbers before the horn players took centre stage. Alto saxophonists Paul Ruddick and the up-and-coming Robert Johnson dovetailed nicely, PR the old hand, RJ learning on the spot - great stuff! Border raider Martin Waugh sat at the piano to play a couple of numbers. Our visiting Scot thought that was that. MC Grainger had other ideas, asking Martin to stay where he was and that's precisely what he did, a most welcome ad hoc member of the house band.
Vocalists Jen Foster (My Favorite Things), Leah Kirk (Blues Skies) and Katrina Miller (No Moon at All) impressed, latecomers Esther Coombes (reeds) and David Gray (trombone) leapt into action - Esther laid back, David all-action. Guitarist Liam Oliver picked up Laurence Harrison's Gibson, making himself at home. And then the big hitters made their pitch - Paul Skerritt (bassist Jamie Watkins alongside) singing It Don't Mean a Thing, Ruth Lambert the tops, West Coast Blues the tune.
The now traditional 'all-left-standing' finale wrapped things up, the Black Swan jam session wouldn't be the same without it. The next session is on Tuesday April 1. You'd be a fool to miss it.
A 'big up' to Tim Johnston, house drummer for the whole session without a break. Russell
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