Dave Weisser (trumpet, flugel horn & vocals), Alan Davis (clarinet), Paul Gowland (tenor saxophone), Andy Lee (alto saxophone & flute), Steve Whitfield (keyboards), Barrie Ascroft (electric bass), Rob Bates (drums) + Omid Ramak (drums) & Colm Rooney (keyboards).
Another week at the Chilli and another shift in focus with old and new faces featuring once more. Jim Crinson, the house band's bassist, was still 'vacationing' as Mr.Weisser would say, so it was down to stalwart Barrie Ascroft to vacate the piano stool and pick up the electric bass. Barrie's keyboard dep was the excellent Steve Whitfield. Tenor man Paul Gowland and altoist Andy Lee kept their place in the team having impressed Boss Man Weisser the previous week. Rob Bates was back behind the kit and the boys kicked-off with Hancock's Cantaloupe Island.
A major highlight came early in the first set - Weisser wanted to do But Beautiful having been inspired by alto saxophonist Caroline Bagley's superb reading of the tune at the Jazz Action gig in Stockton days earlier. Tenor, alto and piano soloed in turn and Weisser sang the words as good as one could wish to hear - great stuff.
The evening's special guest was clarinetist Alan Davis. Davis makes his living in the classical music world. His specialism is the Baroque yet at the Chilli he showed great faclility playing jazz standards. Leafing through the pages of the Gas Book - as discussed recently on Bebop Spoken Here - it shouldn't be too difficult to find these numbers...Lullaby of Birdland, Autumn Leaves and how about Blue Monk? Chillians got these and more from Davis. A quiet man, he played with real affection for the music. His band mates for the evening were in terrific form and a second set highlight, no, make that a highlight of my listening over recent weeks, was a fantastic version of My Favourite Things. Davis led the way and I kid you not, this was almost a reprise of Coltrane's masterly take on the tune. I didn't expect this from Davis (so much the better) and Rob Bates' work on this one was of Elvintine proportions with the tune made for Paul Gowland to blow and blow.
Late sitters-in were the regular jazz gig-going duo of Ramak and Rooney. Dizzy's Con Alma, a difficult tune to my ear, didn't faze Omid Ramak, he was right in there. Good stuff. Pianist Colm Rooney gave Steve Whitfield a spell and got stuck in. I'm sure these two young musicians will be heard elsewhere on the scene in the coming weeks and months - check them out. This was one of the really good nights at the Chilli. I'm sure there will be many more in the future.
Russell.
Note the session scheduled for August 25 is cancelled due to holiday commitments.
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