The Mercury was getting ready to 'pop' (the Met Office reckons that it's going to be even hotter tomorrow!). Iced drinks were the order of the day although some devil-may-care drinkers stuck with pints of the Crescent Club's fine selection of real ales.
Despite the heat, Summertime wasn't on the set list although that may have been an oversight. If so, a jolly good oversight it was too.
As ever, Classic Swing swung a selection of hoary old chestnuts the solos of which we applauded, as directed, irrespective of whether they were well-deserved or not. Fortunately, with this band the solos are invariably 'on the money'. so in truth, the applause needed no prompting.
Olive and Jimmy McB shared the vocals with Olive giving us Almost Like Being in Love; Is it True What They Say About Dixie?; Meet me Tonight in Dreamland; Quando, Quando, Quando; Bye, Bye, Blackbird and Doctor Jazz. Jimmy, in between blowing alto, soprano and clarinet, exercised his vocal chords on: Strike up the Band whilst David Gray played an intro on flugel then sang Just Good Friends (extended version) as well as the rarely heard Secrets in the Moonlight, a number initially recorded in 1940 by Dick Haymes with the Harry James' band.
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| © Patti |
Throughout the afternoon Alan Marshall handled the tenor solos impressively and alternated clarinet 'chores' with Jimmy.
The rhythm section kept it flowing: McMurray, Rudd, A, and Stocks have formed the ideal unit - band ain't draggin' when they're in the engine room.
Instrumentals not mentioned: Tommy Moran's Classic Swing; Perdido and Freddy Johnson's Harlem Bound.
The band and several individuals will be appearing on Saturday and/or Sunday at the Mouth of the Tyne Festival. Lance
Ps: More 'intimate' photos shortly!
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