A dinner break in between the Friday afternoon and evening sessions afforded time to CJP musicians and punters alike to grab a bite to eat. Many chose the easy option (dining in the venue's Pub & Grill), some strolled to a nearby Sambuca's Italian restaurant, others ventured down to Whitley Bay to try out one the coastal resort's many eateries.
The weekend's packed schedule included another batch of Michel 'Doc' Bastide's rare jazz film presentations. So packed was the schedule, Doc's first of three screenings took place during the dinner break. Such is the enthusiasm of CJP-goers, the makeshift film theatre attracted a good number of (jazz) cineastes. Swiftly following Doc's Selection of Rare Jazz Films, Andy Schumm presented the first of the weekend's three Piano Professor sets.
Pianist Martin Litton's Ivie Anderson set opened the evening concert programme. The ever-elegant Litton provided immaculate accompaniment to Nicholle Rochelle (Ivie Anderson - I've Got it Bad and That Ain't Good), supported by an all-British ensemble comprising Rico Tomasso (trumpet), Alistair Allan (trombone), Richard Exall (reeds), Martin Wheatley (banjo, guitar), Malcolm Sked (string bass) and the ever-smiling Nick Ball (drums). A fine set.
Deep River Music - Willard Robison looked at the career of the composer/pianist/popular recording artiste through a jazz lens. Andrew Oliver made the case for Willard's jazz credentials, aided and abetted by a starry cast, including Colin Hancock playing cornet and mellophone and singing, TJ Müller (trombone and euphonium) and Emma Fisk (violin).
Leafing through the programme, Natalie Scharf's Tenors of the 30s promised to be something special. Flying in from Chicago, Ms Scharf hit the ground running with a half hour set featuring numbers associated with Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Bud Freeman and Benny Carter. Tenor sax playing right out of the '30s, Scharf made a big impression here on Tyneside. Later, Ms Scharf was delighted to learn her heroes had, back in the day, performed in these here parts.
Brit TJ Müller has lived and worked in St Louis, Missouri for many years and for this Arcadia Bands session, as our trombonist flew across the Atlantic, he brought a little bit of St Louis' Arcadia Ballroom with him. Specifically, the Arcadia Ballroom 1924-26. These sets aren't just thrown together, you know! These guys - TJ, Colin Hancock (cornet), Joe Boga (trumpet), Michael McQuaid, David Horniblow, Lars Frank, David Horniblow (reeds), Emma Fisk (violin), Andy Schumm (piano), Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, vocals), Phil Rutherford (tuba), Nick Ward (drums) - had been working on the charts for the last twelve months. And it showed.
And that was it, except for the small matter of the first of three late night jam sessions. Some scurried from the concert hall, some ambled, all were heading for the hotel bar. Richard Exall (reeds) would lead the Friday Night Pub Jam. All seats taken, many standing at the bar - A pint of Guinness, please! And off they went, Exall marshalling Lewis Taylor (trumpet), Graham Hughes (trombone), the Crescent City's David Boeddinghaus at the upright, the brilliant Felix Hunot (banjo, guitar), Malcom 'Skeddy' Sked (tuba, string bass) and Nick Ward. And that was just the house band. From eleven at night through to gone half past one in the morning, Exall and co had a ball.
I'm Just Crazy Bout My Baby sang Exall. The sitters-in were many, including, down from Edinburgh, the Tenement Jazz Band's trombonist Paddy Darley, and, on a 'busman's holiday' from Paris, the great string bassist Henry Lemaire. A pint or three of Guinness later (hic!), Clarinet Marmalade raised the roof. Russell
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