Still at least the music was hot and varied and fortunately, at least it was dry - for now...
The Vieux Carré Jazzmen, who of late have been trading as the VC Hot 4, showed up with Colin Aitchison (trumpet); Jim McBriarty (reeds, vocals); Eugene Farrar (trombone); Jamie Watkins (bass guitar); Michael Mather (drums); Brian Bennett (banjo, guitar, leader, vocals) + Neville Sarony (vocals).
Farrar, depping for the ill-fated David Gray who'd broken his ankle whilst soloing a couple of nights previous, blew some powerhouse trombone and would appear again later. I didn't catch the complete set but Neville Sarony's take on Ain't Misbehavin' and Bill Bailey came across loud and clear. Jim McBriarty dealt with Avalon and the set finished with a brief chorus or two of Ice Cream.
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| © Sylvia |
Eugene Farrar stayed on board and shared vocals with Maureen. The pale blue cap suggested it may be Alan Law on piano but it was actually Alf Langthorn - they obviously shop at the same hatters and John Robinson was indeed the bass guitarist. The stage wasn't too well lit to make for easy identification. Still it was a stomping good set of tunes my grandma would have loved...
Viz: At the Jazz Band Ball; 'S wonderful 12th Street\Rag; Waiting for the Robert E Lee; King of the Swingers; I Wish I Was in Dixie; Dr. Jazz; When the Saints go Marching in.
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| © Sylvia |
The mood changed, the music painting a multi-coloured contrast to what had been and what was yet to come. I wasn't sitting shivering in Tynemouth but basking on a Cuban beach sipping Pina Colada whilst watching Salsa strutting señoritas. Holcomb's trombone captured the street music of Havana and his compadres provided authentic rhythmic support.
Salsa, samba, mambo, cha-cha and many other Latin rhythms floated across the lawn. The Buena Vista Social Club, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz and, of course, Santana whose Ome Como Va brought the set to a close.
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| © Sylvia |
Of course this was no one person show. As they do every Friday up the coast at the Crescent Club, Classic Swing delivered their own brand of mainstream with Olive and Jim sharing the vocals. No wonder there was a contingent from the club who follow the band, if not to the end of the earth at least to Tynemouth.
Classic Swing; Strike up the Band; Beale St Blues; When the Midnight Choo-Choo Leaves For Alabam; Dinah; Take the A-Train; Bye Bye Blackbird.
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| © Sylvia |
This was the band I most wanted to see but I was fading fast and growing more and more tired by the minute so, after enjoying a Sonny Rollins like solo from Harry I reluctantly limped off into the sun that had yet to set. The comfort of a Metro ride home eagerly anticipated.
It wasn't to be - this train didn't carry no passengers after South Gosforth where we were all dumped and told to get a bus - 'cept there wasn't any buses and myself and a host of other weary travellers were left standing in the rain. That's right it was now raining.
Eventually, after 30 minutes of eternity, a bus arrived and after a further 45 minutes I made it home.
Washed and watered I took to my bed to watch the England v Norway World Cup quarter final. Forty winks later it was half time and the score was 1-1. The match went into extra time and penalties loomed. In desperation I yelled "C'mon England" and Jude Bellingham scored for England to win 2-1! Later it occurred to me that if, earlier, I'd yelled "C'mon bus" I wouldn't have spent half an hour standing in the rain! Lance
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