Emma Fisk (violin), Paul Edis (piano), Mick Shoulder (bass) and Adam Sinclair (drums).
The boys kicked off a magical evening with Witchcraft then Emma joined them for Don’t Come Better Than That – a sentiment with which the audience agreed! How subtly different everything is with a violin up front: its plangent tones make slower numbers more mellow and wistful yet it can be quirky and skittish with swing! And the next two numbers swung – Ain’t Misbehavin’ and It Had to Be You. Ol’ Jack Horner was welcome to his plum: smoked salmon, sourdough, shallots and capers all round for us!
Next it was full-on wistful/dreamy with Django’s Nuages – no storm cloud this, surely, more billowy white against an azure sky? Rodgers and Hart then delivered This Can’t Be Love while the waitress delivered my posh fish and chips – deep fried red gurnard with lemon and tartare sauce, no less. Both the food and the song were exquisite!This title lead seamlessly into the next, via the lyric – "without your love….". but this version of Paper Moon was no honky-tonk parade, starting as it did, with an intricate, subtle piano intro from Paul. The first half swung out (as it had swung in) appropriately with It Don’t Mean a Thing If it Ain’t Got….
Chocolate and coffee crème brulée with biscotti filled out the interval and rounded off another lovely Cherry Tree meal. Compliments to the staff!
The boys then got cooking again with Yesterdays and Paul and Adam enjoyed trading fours without anything being over-egged!
It was then full-swing-ahead with Lady be Good, contrasted next by the slower Alice in Wonderland, then we were Walkin’ My Baby Back Home. Is it just me, or is there a bit of that which sounds like Mary Wells with My Guy? Anyway, Someone to Watch Over Me took us back to wistful/yearning etc. as did Autumn Leaves during which Paul got his first (deserved) applause for a solo. There were lots of good solos all round – it just wasn’t a solo-applauding audience!
But it was an appreciative one as the penultimate number – I’ve Got Rhythm – elicited an Oliver-style request for "more" which was met with the beautifully played and melodic If I Had You.
Lots more good stuff coming up at this venue – watch this space!
Jerry
2 comments :
Emma brought more than just hot club swing to the Cherry Tree last night. At times her violin reminded me of Stephan G's sessions with Yehudi Menuhin.
My only problem with the Cherry Tree is that sometimes you cant hear all the instruments. Last night the balance was great and the piano sound was particularly crisp - never mind a faultless performance by a line up we look forward to hearing again
JT
A great gig. The whole ensemble complemented each other really well.
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