Andrew Oliver is something of a fixture at Whitley Bay. Flying in from Portland, Oregon, pianist Oliver would make a major contribution across the weekend, not least his Saturday evening Piano Professor set. It's an opportunity for Classic Jazz Party pianists to play a selection of tunes of their choosing, sometimes random, sometimes themed.
Josh Duffee, the man from Davenport, Iowa (Bix territory), led a half hour Cleo Brown set featuring pianist David Boeddinghaus as Brown, and Nicolle Rochelle as Brown the vocalist.
Drummer Duffee, with his Midwest accent, never fails to engage with his audience. In an all too short set, Boeddinghaus impressed with his thorough command of stride, boogie-woogie and rhythm and blues. Ms Rochelle won the hearts of all present; great vocals, expressive eyes and hand gestures.
The Bechet-Spanier Big Four Reimagined session was Michael McQuaid's take on how the spring 1940 quartet recording sessions (featuring the co-leaders alongside Carnen Mastren and Wellman Braud) would have sounded if there had been more material than the mere eight sides committed to acetate. McQuaid (reeds), Lewis Taylor (trumpet), Félix Hunot (guitar) and Harry Evans (string bass) had fun exploring the idea.
The final session of the evening proved to be something different. Sitting front of stage, drummer Nick Ball swapped drum kit for washboard and thimbles to present Washboard Empire. This Southside Chicago set, featuring a host of A-listers, including the cornets of Colin Hancock and Andy Schumm, Curtis Volp (banjo, guitar) and Malcolm Sked (tuba and string bass), offered insights into various technical aspects of the washboard. Who knew?!
Earl Hines Orchestra. The evening's set piece finale looked at Hines' activities c. 1928-30, a period when the great pianist was recording in Chicago and New York. The orchestra for the evening included Joe Boga (trumpet), Lorenzo Baldasso and David Lukács (reeds), set leader Andy Schumm (piano), Spats Langham (banjo, guitar and vocals) and drummer Josh Duffee. A rousing end to another full day of classic jazz.
Wait there! The second of the CJP's late night jam sessions was about to get underway. Within minutes the hotel bar was once again crowded with jazz fans looking to hear yet more jazz.
Lars Frank (reeds) led what would turnout to be a stupendous session. Frank's house band comprised Rico Tomasso (trumpet), Alistair Allan (trombone), Martin Litton at the upright, Martin Wheatley playing banjo and guitar, Harry Evans alternating between tuba and string bass and drummer Nick Ball.
Those looking to sit in came from far and wide - North America, South America, Europe, southern England and, from north of the border, Scotland. CJP co-MD, Colin Hancock, best known for playing cornet and trumpet, took a spell behind the traps. If you're ever in need of a classic jazz era drummer, look no further...
Vocalists were queuing up. From NYC, operatic soprano Ana Quintana, from Old Blighty, one time Sid Phillips crooner, Roy Chappell, and others. Up from Bristol, Joe Trudgeon, playing string bass, later guitar. From Edinburgh, the Tenement Jazz Band's John Youngs (pictured alongside Martin Wheatley), NYC trumpet ace Mike Davis, the list goes on. And the jam session went on and on, 'til gone half past one. Russell
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