Miles @ Newcastle City Hall

Friday, October 7, 1960. Newcastle City Hall had an air of anticipation about it as the seats were being leisurely taken. Not all were yet occupied. Had the supporting Jazz Five (Vic Ash, Harry Klein, Brian Dee, Malcolm Cecil and Bill Eydon) been playing on another night at another, smaller, venue such as the New Orleans Club or the Down Beat the fans would have been fighting to get in.

On another night.

On this night there was only one game in town and only one person - Miles Davis.

So whilst the Jazz Five were attempting the impossible, the pundits and aficionados were propping up the bar (not me guv!)

At last the moment arrived. Within minutes all seats were filled. Kind of Blue had just been released the year previous and some were muttering darkly at the presence of Sonny Stitt in place of Cannonball and Trane.

It didn't bother me, I'd heard Stitt with JATP a few years earlier and I knew he could cut it although there were some who regarded Miles walking off stage during the sax solos as a meaningful gesture

As for Miles, his trade mark Harmon mute was well-used and to great affect but it was when he discarded it that he really came to the fore. In a hall not noted for its acoustics, the sound was rich and full. Resonating loud and clear, Sonny Stitt didn't leave the stage.

Chambers impressed - the first time I'd heard bowed bass in a non-classical context. Wynton Kelly wasn't bothered that the programme misspelt his first name whilst Jimmy Cobb proved his high rating driving or laying back as required.

In my programme notes I find that I only listed four tunes. I'm sure there were more. Maybe I got carried away by the music or my pen ran out. I'm assuming that Kinda Blue was a misheard All Blues. Whatever, it was a night to remember. Lance