Mouth of the Tyne Festival (day 1) July 12

Metro late, nothing new there. Metro to Tynemouth jam packed. Yes, the sun was shining. Some were going for a plodge, others were heading for the Mouth of the Tyne Festival's jazz stage. Situated between Tynemouth Priory and the Gibraltar Rock public house, the sun shone and shone and shone.

Vieux Carré Jazzmen: Jim  McBriarty (reeds, vocals); David Gray (trombone); Colin Aitchison (trumpet, vocals); Brian  Bennett (banjo); Paul Grainger (string bass); Paul Thompson (drums, vocals)

First up to the plate, the evergreen Vieux Carré Jazzmen. The regular VCJ line-up was augmented by ex-pat Geordie Colin Aitchison. Trumpeter Colin made the long journey from his Hong Kong base (14 hours), and at the invitation of various bandleaders (the first of them Brian Bennett of the VCJ) added to the carnival proceedings here on the Tynemouth Riviera. CA sang I Want a Little Girl, Jim McBriarty sang Bring Me Sunshine (no need, there was plenty of it!) and the tunes continued to flow. A good start to five hours' worth of jazz down at the coast.   

Rendezvous Jazz: Maureen Hall (vocals); Gavin Lee (reeds); Gordon Solomon (trombone); Alf Langthorne (piano); John Robinson (bass guitar); Gordon Turnbull (drums) 

Friday lunchtime, Maureen Hall's Rendezvous Jazz could be heard at the Monkseaton Arms (the band's weekly residency), twenty four hours later Maureen and the boys were just along the coast to play the Mouth of the Tyne weekender. Flanked as usual by the A-listers Gavin Lee (reeds) and Gordon Solomon (trombone), the Rendezvous boys opened with a good old good one - Alexander's Ragtime Band. With Alf Langthorne at the piano, Maureen sang When You're Smiling - on a day like today just about everyone was smiling.   

           

Mississippi Dreamboats: Liz Bacon (clarinet); Ian Robinson (cornet); Dave Reid (banjo); John Robinson (bass guitar); Paul Bacon (drums) 

Liz and Paul Bacon play it strictly New Orleans. Good for them! A Big Easy sun in the sky, the veteran Mississippi Dreamboats served up a gumbo selection, including a fine take on Waiting for the Robert E. Lee. An excellent set, featuring some fine cornet playing by Ian Robinson.  

Classic Swing: Jim McBriarty (reeds, vocals); Alan Marshall (tenor sax); Colin Aitchison (trumpet, trombone, vocals); Jeremy McMurray (piano); Alan Rudd (string bass); Ian Stocks (drums)  

Twenty four hours earlier at the other end of Longsands, Classic Swing's Friday lunchtime residency at Cullercoats Crescent Club drew a good crowd. Here at the Mouth of the Tyne, same thing. Bodies sprawled on the parched grass, baking under a relentless sun, bottled water and cans of beer were being consumed at a rate of knots. Guest Colin Aitchison blew trumpet and trombone, the Armstrong vocal never far away. Great entertainment!  

And to close out the day, a change of gear. Welcome the Abbie Finn Trio.  

      

Abbie Finn Trio: Harry Keeble (tenor sax); Paul Grainger (double bass); Abbie Finn (drums)

Bandleader, drummer Abbie Finn chose a selection of numbers which would be well received here in Tynemouth. From the familiar strains of Caravan (tenor saxophonist Harry Keeble in overdrive) to Sheila's Song (comp. A. Finn ) to Sonny Rollins Pent-Up House, the AF3 played a great set, winning new fans along the way.

It had been hotter than Hades, the jazz was frequently of the hot variety, a good first day here at the Mouth of the Tyne Festival. Russell