Ray Dales (alt); Jeremy McMurray (pno); Peter Ayton (bs.gtr); Richard Brown (dms).
Regular readers will know that I like to link the food with the music which isn't always easy and, at times, a little contrived. However, no such jiggery pokery was required for my starter - Pork Rillette, Warm Toast and Chutney. No sooner had I taken a mouthful than the band opened up with So Nice. Those two words said it all for the food and the music.
Despite our relative longevity I'd never actually heard Ray Dales until tonight although I knew of him. It was well worth waiting for as his Benny Carter-like lines floated through the Jobim tune with ease and I knew a treat was in store.
The Things We Did Last Summer and Our Day Will Come - you'd have thought that I'd written the set list - Just Friends, My Foolish Heart, Wave - I even forgave him playing Summertime and so I should seeing as how everyone and his cousin plays or sings Summertime. Autumn Leaves was taken up-tempo and featured a delightful Bach-like improvisation from Jeremy that included some counterpoint with bass guitarist Ayton.
Whilst all this was going on I was tucking in to Pappadelle Pasta with Fresh Picked Crab, Lobster Butter, Parsley and Parmesan.
The second set opened up with Don't Get Around Much Any More and Sticky Toffee Pudding, Caramel Sauce and Banana Ice Cream - what a combination - Sonny Wouldn't Get Blue if she'd tasted that!
Stella By Starlight, Four, Let's Get Lost, and We'll Be Together Again with some lovely Shearingish block chord from Jeremy were just some of the numbers that made this a most enjoyable evening.
Special mention of Richard Brown who played discreetly without any loss of drive or swing and Peter Ayton who underpinned it all beautifully.
Lance.
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