Cookin' @ The Chilli - Budvivar, Take it to the Bridge & Applecake

Debra Milne (vcl), Stuart Findon, Fiona Littlewood (ten), Nicola Weaver (bar), Chris Finch (pno), Jim Crinson (bs), Eric Stutt (dms). + Harley Johnson.

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Dave Weisser (tpt/vcl/oven), Barrie Ascroft (pno), Jim Crinson (bs), Eric Stutt (dms). + Stuart Findon, Harley Johnson.

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This is the way it should be every week at the Chilli - good crowd, good music and good food.

Well the music's always good, but the room isn't always crowded and the food is usually a packet of cheese and onion from the bar. However, tonight it's Xmas so all three were in evidence.

Let's talk food.

If you ain't tasted Dave Weisser's applecake then you ain't tasted nothin'! I know I've just laid a double negative on you - let the grammar police arrest me - but please, officer, don't take the applecake away. Yes Dave Weisser made this delicacy with his own fair(ish) hands from a recipe that was probably handed down to him by a backwoodsman out in the Ozarks.

Eat your heart out Jamie Oliver this is the real deal.

As if that wasn't enough we had a stomping set from Budvivar who set the pulses racing with a mix of bebop and jive. In the latter category "Hit That Jive Jack" (dedicated to yours truly thank you Debs) ticked all the right boxes - this was musical applecake. The boppers ranged from the opening instrumental "Groovin' High" through Debra's vocal on "Billie's Bounce" to her Horace Silver work-outs on "The Jody Grind" - or should it be re-named "The Geordie Grind"? - and "Nica's Dream".

Debra sang well tonight and the three saxes were pound-sound. Nicola's baritone brings a depth to the band that they didn't quite achieve with the trombone. Fiona, all legs tonight, her lighter sound provided a contrast to Nicola's lyricism and Stuart's gut-wrenching "soulo" flights. At times they came across like a Ray Charles sax section.

Chris, risen from his sickbed, on piano had some impressive moments as did Harley who took over for "Round Midnight".

In the engine room, Jim, on five string fretless, and Eric powered the ship along with relentless precision. I think Eric has changed his cymbal set-up around it sounded good.

Eric and Jim played non-stop both before, during and after the main event.

Dave was in fine voice on "Stella By Starlight" and "Darn That Dream". Dream coincided with the arrival of Paul Bream prompting someone to suggest he should sing "Darn That Bream"!

Stuart stayed on for the jam and Harley rode the night out on "Blue Bossa".

An excellent evening and well attended - they must have heard about the applecake.

Next session - the Alan Glen Trio on Jan 6, 2010.

Check out the Photos. Lance.

PS: Woody Herman did "Applehoney", Gerry Mulligan, "Applecore" but which British band recorded "Applecake"? A clue. Monk played trombone on the track.