Maureen Hall (vocals); Gavin Lee (clarinet); Gordon Solomon (trombone); Gerry Richardson (piano); John Robinson (bass guitar); Scotty Adair (drums, vocals)
Torrential rain greeted our arrival in Monkseaton. Deciding to 'give it five' we sought shelter. The five came and went. What to do? There was nothing else for it. Off we went in to the monsoon. Arriving at our destination somewhat bedraggled, our landlord kindly pulled a pint of Taylor's Landlord.
A little rain wasn't going to deter Maureen Hall. Come rain or come shine, our bandleader has kept Rendezvous Jazz on the road for something like a quarter of a century. As usual here in Monkseaton, a seat with a clear view wasn't an option with all tables reserved by the Rendezvous faithful. As Maureen and the boys took to the floor, seats in the wings, with a partial view, were the best/only alternative.
From Shine to Gettysburg March to Baby Face, Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? and more, Maureen and co were in fine form. The all-seated frontline - Hall, flanked to her left by Gavin Lee (clarinet) and to her right by Gordon Solomon (trombone). All seated, just like the old timers in Preservation Hall. All seated behind the excellent frontline were, RJ debutant, pianist Gerry Richardson, bassist John Robinson and drummer Scotty Adair.
The interval. The 'jazz economy' raffle. Oh, well...
Second set...more from the Crescent City and the Dixie hinterland. East Coast Trot, Midnight in Moscow (no trumpet, no echoes of Mr K. Ball), I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover (Scotty Adair's rewriting of the the lyrics raising a laugh) to the traditional/gospel number Let Your Light Shine on Me (aka Light from the Lighthouse) with the 'congregation' singing/swaying along.
The Monkseaton Arms on a Friday lunchtime is always busy. You can put it down to Maureen Hall's long standing residency. Long may it continue. Russell
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