It was almost like a jazz BAFTA when I passed through the portals of 'The Tree' tonight. Celebrities of a previous golden jazz era abounded. There was Gordon Solomon, Jackie Denton, John Hedley, Germaine Stanger to mention but a few. The excuse for this galactic assembly was to celebrate Andy Hudson's birthday. I wished him a couple of happy returns.The main event of the evening - apart from the Moules Frites & Aioli - was tenor player Mick Donnelly's debut at the venue.
I'd never heard Mick Before but, nor had I eaten Moules or Aioli until tonight although Frites I have had a long term relationship with.
I'm pleased to say that neither Mick nor Les Moules (mussels actually) disappointed me.
Mick has that big tough tenor sound reminiscent of someone like Arnette Cobb although with more than a hint of today about it.
They kicked off with Time After Time just as I started on Black Pudding Croquet with Sauce Gribiche. Both went down a treat.
Take The A Train had more booting tenor whilst Nature Boy was softer, more sinuous and with a latin feel to it. Spring Will Be A Little Late This Year and I Thought About You finished off the first set as I was finishing off Les Moules.
It goes without saying, although it shouldn't go without saying, that the Paul Edis Trio were superb in support and Paul's solos didn't cause any pain at all.
For the second set they got down to business and sent the room into orbit with a driving version of On The Sunnyside of the Street. It was all systems go with Doxy, St Thomas, Yardbird Suite and When Sunny Gets Blue - one of those ballads to end all ballads. This latter tune was sheer magic that even Cantaloupe Island couldn't match although my Pecan Pie with Vanilla Mascapone came pretty close.
As I left I exchanged pleasantries with some of today's jazz royalty - David Carnegie, Claude Werner, Dr Nicola and Judith the violin.
Quite an evening.
Mick Donnelly (ten), Paul Edis (pno), Mick Shoulder (bs), Adam Sinclair (dms)
Lance.
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