Strictly Big Band @ The Sage.

This was a bit of a curate's egg albeit with some very tasty moments. I refer to the dancers. Think Pan's People or Legs and Co and you get the idea. Strutting their stuff in the skimpiest of costumes did nothing to detract from Sing, Sing, Sing or indeed the other numbers where, in different attire, they shimmied and - in St Louis Blues - positively bumped and grinded. The girls did good and the boys were okay too (I guess!)

In truth it was a good swinging band that, perhaps because of it being the opening night of the tour, occasionally faltered - not often I hasten to add.

The strangely named Sueyo handled the girl vocals with a bluesy feel to Why Don't You Do Right?, Blues in the Night, Fever whilst Chris Herbert did the boy thing on Hit The Road Jack, Georgia, Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams and King of the Road - one of those sixties pop songs that I think deserves Gasbook recognition.

Band numbers included Cute - with a tap dancer taking the drum breaks - an up tempo A Train that had a good trumpet blast from someone (soloists weren't named) and Groove Merchant.

Amazingly solos were very thin on the ground and this a band with Russell Henderson in the sax section! Russ's moment came in the Let The Good Times Roll finale where he managed a fine chorus on alto.

Perhaps the best combination of band and dancers was on Dizzy's Manteca - this one really gelled.

A work in progress I think.

The show was compered a la Pal Joey by David Knopov.

Lance.