We were pleased to wake to sunshine as we were going on a
jazz cruise up the Clarence River at 11am for 4 hours. The Yamba jetty was chockers with a mob waiting for the ferry
to arrive, so Judy was a little apprehensive about how it would be - would we get on, will there be a seat, will the boat sink?
We decided the top deck was the place to be as the seating was in pairs whereas downstairs was seating at tables for 8. There was a large group of ladies of a 'certain age' that had reserved 4 of the 8 tables downstairs and with the band in one corner it was also pretty full. We stayed upstairs until Iluka where another mob was waiting, but it was windy cold and you couldn't hear the band. Fortunately, a big bunch got off at Iluka to go to the market, but Judy quite rightly suggested that I nick downstairs and grab some of the food before it all went. After I bought some sandwiches and ordered a nibbles platter, I noticed two great seats up for grabs, so I grabbed 'em. It turned out to be a very good decision. Settled in our new possie, we grabbed a bottle of Sav blank as an accompaniment. The band was already starting to react to the ladies who may have had a glass of something before the cruise and definitely a bottle or two since embarking, the sunshine was streaming in through the window and doorway and the food was yummy. The ladies turned out to be from the local golf club on their annual jazz cruise day out and were having a great time, enjoying the music and copious amounts of wine. They started singing and dancing and generally encouraging the musos who responded accordingly. Judy of course had to join in, even if she only got me up once for a dance. The whole boat full of people embraced the fun and I’m sure we could be heard from the banks of the Clarence. There were certainly a lot of people waving at us. The atmosphere only got better throughout the day and even though I’m sure we would have enjoyed the cruise anyway, the ladies really made the day.
We had turned about just past the highway bridge up near Maclean and the band took a break. The atmosphere was so charged up that the horn blower took over the piano and started pumping out some old crooner stuff. The crowd went wild. One lady wanted to do "I Am Woman" karaoke style nut he just didn't know it (he's a jazzman!) and it started to fall a bit flat. Quick as a flash he whips out the trusty iPad, and called up the chart from the internet. Bam! Together they brought the house down. Wow, what a show - and he was just filling in because he likes to play music...
When we arrived back at Iluka a couple of hours later to drop some people off, there was a heap of sober market goers waiting to get on for the trip back to Yamba on that leg of what was now ostensibly the normal ferry service. They didn’t know what they were in for! The band was still pumping it out, the ladies still partying, it was really just going off, but the newcomers embraced the atmosphere and some of them got up for a dance. Unfortunately the Yamba jetty hove into view very quickly and the band had to stop, pack up and get off. To cries of “one more” they obliged for a final, final song and we were dancing for the last time. We alighted after a very enjoyable cruise, a bloody cracker actually. We headed back into town for a coffee in the sunshine and a read of the Sunday papers. What a great day.
Judy wrote an original for this blog, I hijacked it, so my apologies if its a bit wonky - Brian
Daily snaps => Jazz Cruise Sorry, Picasa is no longer available
We decided the top deck was the place to be as the seating was in pairs whereas downstairs was seating at tables for 8. There was a large group of ladies of a 'certain age' that had reserved 4 of the 8 tables downstairs and with the band in one corner it was also pretty full. We stayed upstairs until Iluka where another mob was waiting, but it was windy cold and you couldn't hear the band. Fortunately, a big bunch got off at Iluka to go to the market, but Judy quite rightly suggested that I nick downstairs and grab some of the food before it all went. After I bought some sandwiches and ordered a nibbles platter, I noticed two great seats up for grabs, so I grabbed 'em. It turned out to be a very good decision. Settled in our new possie, we grabbed a bottle of Sav blank as an accompaniment. The band was already starting to react to the ladies who may have had a glass of something before the cruise and definitely a bottle or two since embarking, the sunshine was streaming in through the window and doorway and the food was yummy. The ladies turned out to be from the local golf club on their annual jazz cruise day out and were having a great time, enjoying the music and copious amounts of wine. They started singing and dancing and generally encouraging the musos who responded accordingly. Judy of course had to join in, even if she only got me up once for a dance. The whole boat full of people embraced the fun and I’m sure we could be heard from the banks of the Clarence. There were certainly a lot of people waving at us. The atmosphere only got better throughout the day and even though I’m sure we would have enjoyed the cruise anyway, the ladies really made the day.
We had turned about just past the highway bridge up near Maclean and the band took a break. The atmosphere was so charged up that the horn blower took over the piano and started pumping out some old crooner stuff. The crowd went wild. One lady wanted to do "I Am Woman" karaoke style nut he just didn't know it (he's a jazzman!) and it started to fall a bit flat. Quick as a flash he whips out the trusty iPad, and called up the chart from the internet. Bam! Together they brought the house down. Wow, what a show - and he was just filling in because he likes to play music...
When we arrived back at Iluka a couple of hours later to drop some people off, there was a heap of sober market goers waiting to get on for the trip back to Yamba on that leg of what was now ostensibly the normal ferry service. They didn’t know what they were in for! The band was still pumping it out, the ladies still partying, it was really just going off, but the newcomers embraced the atmosphere and some of them got up for a dance. Unfortunately the Yamba jetty hove into view very quickly and the band had to stop, pack up and get off. To cries of “one more” they obliged for a final, final song and we were dancing for the last time. We alighted after a very enjoyable cruise, a bloody cracker actually. We headed back into town for a coffee in the sunshine and a read of the Sunday papers. What a great day.
Judy wrote an original for this blog, I hijacked it, so my apologies if its a bit wonky - Brian
Daily snaps => Jazz Cruise Sorry, Picasa is no longer available
Sampler
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