Big Ben

Many aspiring jazz musicians in Tyneside and beyond have been inspired by the Jazz for Everyone workshops at the Sage Gateshead run by pianist Ben Gilbert (with assistance from others). In August he's moving to London.
The workshop on Saturday 11 July was his last, and what an occasion it was! Ben's friend and colleague, Claude Werner, a superb saxophonist, had written a tribute to him: a composition for jazz orchestra entitled 'Big Ben'. (Ben is a slight unassuming guy, probably unaware of his big influence.)
The challenge Claude had set himself and the musicians was to rehearse a brand new composition in just three hours (only 2.5 hours once everyone had got seated) and then give a public performance.
The first unknown factor was: who would turn up to play? Well, the word had got round and many of those who had been inspired by Ben wanted to take part. I've never seen a room at the Sage so full - 30-35 musicians (every time I counted I got a different number), all saxes, trumpets, trombone, mandolin, violin, guitars, basses, keyboards, drums and percussion, and vocalists.
The next unknown was: could we do it? Claude had written a excellent piece, and was trusting that the musicians that he and Ben had sometimes tutored would rise to the occasion.
The performance, at 6pm in Hall Two, wasn't note perfect, but it was inspired and inspiring - much better than many would have expected.
And in the jam session that followed Ben and Claude, joined by David Carnegie on drums and Mick Shoulder on bass, played sensational improvisations over well known standards. And they were joined by some of the people they had tutored who were effectively continuing their personal tributes to Ben Gilbert and Jazz for Everyone.
This was an emotional musical occasion unlikely to be repeated.