Jam session @ the Black Swan - May 6

Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); John  Hirst (drums) + Paul Ruddick (alto sax); Shivan Ruddick (trumpet); Leah Kirk (vocals); Robert Johnson (alto sax); Shayo Oshodi (vocals); Liam Oliver (guitar); Rich Millington (drums); Carl Peacock (piano); Ian Drever (vocals); Edgar Bell (trumpet, Monk shuffle); Jan Spencelayh (vocals); Esther Coombes (alto sax, clarinet); Owen Jones (double bass); ? (guitar); Diane (vocals); Oscar Nolan (vocals); Theo Nolan (vocals, drums); Jen Foster (vocals)

As Black Swan jam sessions go, this evening's session was strangely quiet. It's exam season - both school and university - and the absence of many younger faces was all too apparent.* The house trio warmed up with a choice selection: Four, Ponciana and Close Your Eyes. Messrs Law, Grainger and Hirst are the ideal candidates for an open  jam session. They're always on top of the material and any newbies are made welcome, quickly realising they're in a supportive environment.   

The Ruddicks were the first to get the nod. Paul Ruddick needs little introduction nor support, the experienced alto saxophonist every bit as supportive to other, perhaps less experienced, sitters-in. Trumpeter Shivan, not quite out of school, really shone this evening, not least on Roland Kirk's Serenade to a Cuckoo. Father and son made rounded, concise contributions, Shivan coming on in leaps and bounds.

Second year music student Leah Kirk is another who has found her feet, Frank Loesser's Never Will I Marry a good choice (Leah's tutor is Ruth Lambert...). Shayo Oshodi sang No Moon at All accompanied by Tyne Valley alto saxophonist Robert Johnson (another one not quite out of school). Impressive!

Rich Millington sat in (John Hirst making a beeline for the bar), Carl Peacock sat in (Alan Law making a beeline for the bar) as Ian 'Union Jack' Drever made his individual contribution to VE Day celebrations with a highly distinctive take on Rodgers and Hart's The Lady is a Tramp. It is reported Messerschmitts were seen turning back. 

Jan Spencelayh arrived from the Deep South (Teesside), singing This Masquerade, Jan's friend Diane sang My Baby Just Cares for Me, they'll be back. 

Earlier, Well You Needn't inspired bugler Edgar Bell to give us a few Thelonious Monk dance steps. The phrase: Don't give up your day job, sprung to mind. Later, much later, it was all hands on deck. Spotters reported no sightings of the fleeing Messerschmitts. All guns blazing, the Black Swan jam session went out in typical uptempo bebop fashion.     

         

* Newcastle University music student recitals are underway. Some of those with a Black Swan jam session connection are shortly to present their second or third stage recitals. Open to the public, the recitals in the Music Studios (Band Room), Assembly Lane (behind Blackwell's Bookshop) are scheduled as follows: Thursday 8 May: 10:00am Jay Straughan (drums); 3:00pm Olly Styles (saxophone); Wednesday 14 May: 3:00pm Leah Kirk (voice).  Russell