Alan Law (piano); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums) + Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Shayo Oshodi (vocals); Daniel Chandler (piano); Robert Johnson (alto sax); Niffi Osiyemi (vocals); Remi Coulthard Boardman (vocals); Jacob Egglestone (guitar); Jamie Watkins (double bass); Bailey Rudd (drums); Ian Drever (vocals); Edgar Bell (trumpet); Becky Tuck (vocals); Esther Coombes (alto sax, clarinet); Carl Peacock (piano); David Gray (trombone); ? (guitar)
Newcastle Arts Centre is home to the Black Swan jam session. Midsummer can have an adverse affect on attendances at events and although numbers were somewhat less than usual, many a jam session organiser would kill to pull a crowd similar to this evening's turn out.
First and third Tuesdays in the month, the punters know where they need to be. Seats occupied, beers in hand, the house trio got things underway with a summery St Thomas. As jam session house trios go, they don't come much better than Alan Law, Paul Grainger and Abbie Finn. St Thomas done and dusted, in no time at all Harry Keeble walked through a constantly turning revolving door. HK was In a Sentimental Mood, Shayo Oshodi danced Cheek to Cheek, several of the usual faces were looking to get the nod from MC Grainger...
The sound of surprise, a surprising turn of events...earlier, Alan Law arrived with two school students in tow. One of them, a pianist, was keen to get a first taste of the world of the jam session. As Law vacated the piano stool, Daniel Chandler took his chance. From Wayne Shorter to Duke Ellington and a whole lot more, whatever the tune, Chandler could handle it. Make a note of the name - Daniel Chandler - we're going to be hearing a lot more from this highly talented young musician.
The other hopefuls had a lot to do. Alto saxophonist Robert Johnson, not so long ago a newbie himself, has come on in leaps and bounds - most impressive. Make a point of catching him before he heads off to university in the autumn. Compared to our debutant, D. Chandler, the twentysomethings - vocalists Niffi Osiyemi and Remi Coulthard Boardman - are old hands! Likewise, recent graduates, guitarist Jacob Egglestone, bassist Jamie Watkins and drummer Bailey Rudd. Together they looked after things as MC Grainger took five. Giving young musicians a chance, giving them every encouragement, they become jam session regulars and in no time at all they become part of a musical community.
Rising star vocalist Becky Tuck, keen-as-mustard Esther Coombes, 'bone man David Gray, just three of many who support the Black Swan jam session, they were in the house, in time getting up to make their contribution. Some weeks hoped for big hitters don't appear, some weeks they do, it's all part of the fun. And, as this evening's session illustrated so well, when a new face - in this case Daniel Chandler - appears, it kind of makes it all worthwhile. The next Black Swan jam session is set for Tuesday 1 July. Down beat at half past seven, what's more, it's free admission. Russell
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