Inaugural bash at the Bowls Club went sublimely well – could not find a single negative comment fropm the 40 odd jammers* who attended the tryout. Started with a lively session with Adam Forde on bass, the Captain, glutton for punishment on sax, Larry Kean on drums and Dean on guitar.
And went smoothly down hill from there really. None of the Bowling club members appreciated the extent to which there were jammers playing out of their skin, trying to impress the two bar men. And succeeding, by all accounts.
Kay was there, Annie was there, Jane (after a three hour sesh at the Cowderoy Cafe), Buddy, Anita, Kerry, Deborah and one other, of the Challis Street mob, whose name escapes me… so the tonsil epartment was well represente. Malcolm (piano), who pleaded indispostion for last week, was back in spades, and brought some order to the band: John Bell trumped, his off sider saxed, as did Alan when he wasn’t on the guirro, Kai turned up and played some neat keys, the Curtis (looking suspiciously relaxed and tanned) added some de bon to the aire, Anton and Pete chimed in with some bass, both getting gooder by the minute, Jim played some neat guitar, Michael “happysnaps” Findlay, Briton the American, amongst the drummers, and a goodly audience lapped it all up.
Highlights? What, already? Well if we must, Buddy half cocked his first number, then absolutely aced the second (Angel Eyes?) to make up for it. Probably tonsil du jour. Great to see Annie up and about and looking remarkably well apart from the odd hip, a coupla shoulders, and most other limbs which have been in for a retread or something.
We pulled stumps around 7.30, finishing with Kay whooping it up.
On the plus side: a great wide open venue, good stage, cheap booze, free parking, sound okay (it will get better)
On the minus side: we are still trying to arrange some storage – drum kits, MX6 and the Captain’s garage are not a good mix, and a stage piano, bass amp, piano amp, guitar amp and a bag full of cables do not sit well in my hallway. But thank you to the jammers who helped us pack up…
Sir Walter? Next week, the Armada…
- Footnote. When we say 40 odd jammers, what we actually mean is that about two of them were boringly normal.
Melbourne Jazz Jammers 