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 (double bass, sousaphone); Kit Haigh (drums)
The very first gig at Prohibition Bar featured House of the Black Gardenia. Now, as the Pink Lane venue is soon to shut up shop for good, the HotBG returned for one last hurrah. Punters gathered in the downstairs bar, waiting the nod. A while later, bar manager Danny gave the nod and up they went (up 'the dancers'), ready to dance the night away.
The first floor room's usual cabaret table layout made way for an expanded dance floor, seats arranged around the perimeter. Double Maxim the pick, seats secured, the HotBG would play two sets and, not one, but two encores. Yes, it was to be one of those nights...
Casual excellence, that's House of the Black Gardenia: the dead-eye vocals of Elise Rana, the 'real deal' blues voice of Michael Littlefield, the ace horn section (Keith Robinson, Pete Tanton, David Gray) so very impressive, Katja Roberts (violin) adding an extra 'viper jazz' dimension, Elliot Rush (piano), bassman Neil Hopper (from time to time grappling with the sousa), kit man Kit Haigh hitting everything at the right time, every time.
Why? (Littlefield asking the question), Tin Roof Blues, Viper Mad, HotBG had them up on the floor. It was farewell to Prohibition Bar, but there is the promise of more, much more from House of the Black Gardenia: a new album is in the works, a spot at this year's Mouth of the Tyne jazz stage is on the horizon, and from The Mooche to the Hopper/Rana-penned One in a Million, you could say they're one in a million. Russell
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