Hartley Jams @ Rosie's.

Ray Harley (tpt); Neville Hartley (tmb) Jim McBriarty (clt/vcl); George Richardson (pno); Alan Rudd (bs); Olive Rudd (vcl).

Herbie was away on one of his periodic journeys to Turkey so we had slideman Neville Hartley depping most admirably.

It was a good turnout which was only to be expected on a red-hot pre Easter Thursday.

The band swung merrily along with Jimmy McB compering and throwing in a few vocals in his inimitable deadpan style as well as blowing hot clarinet..

A couple of ladies with their offspring occupied a front row table. The kids - circa 1-5 agewise - didn't seem to mind the music and perhaps, in later years, they may turn out to be jazzers themselves. Possibly in deference to the sprogs and their mums the band kicked off with I've Found a New Baby.

Slow Boat To China followed and it was the sort of day where a slow boat to China sounded appealing although I guess the nearest option would be a boat on the lake in Marine Park. To digress, the number 27 bus I (eventually) reached Shields on was slower than any China-bound freighter. However, enough of the problems of public transport in Hebburn...
Back to the music.

Olive doesn't seem to sing as much these days but when she does she delivers.

Blackbird, Some of These Days, Swing That Music all hit the spot.
Pictured left in the picture above is good buddy Charlie and, I'm guessing, the guy who does stand-in's for Omar Bin Laden.