Katherine Stone Quartet @ The Cherrytree Restaurant: August 27 - Take 2.

Katherine Stone (vcls), Dean Stockdale (p), Steve Doyle (dMs), Stuart Davies (b).
(Review by JC).

We arrived at the Club Cherrytree about 8pm and the place was buzzing. Every table was full and there were plenty of people upstairs as well. The band were well into their stride and Katherine Stone was in full flow singing Wade in the Water, looking every inch a stunning night club jazz singer with, according to my fashion stylist companion, a perfectly updated '40s dress with frills and pleats, sparkling earrings and un tres chic chignon (or hair bun, to you and me). Much of the interval was spent discussing how to create that effect with your hair and I fully intend trying it.

The songs just flowed, every one a standard, old and new, but all immaculately performed. My dining companions were delighted that they knew all the songs: My Baby Just Cares for Me, Just Squeeze Me, Misty (with lovely playing from Dean Stockdale on piano), Sway, I Get a Kick Out of You, but sadly no song title that really offered a suitable link to my (very tasty) Oxtail Croquettes.

Next was a lovely version of Falling in Love Again with Dean giving an exquisite musical interpretation of ‘moths around a flame’, however all Marlene Dietrich songs make me think of Madeline Kahn in Blazing Saddles. I know I shouldn’t but I can’t help it....

The goodies continued with a Dusty Springfield number Spooky, which bore no relationship to the glass of Kielder Best I was drinking but I enjoyed both. Then there was The Carpenters Masquerade, which is a perfectly nice song, but I seem to have been hearing Carpenters songs everywhere recently, in shops, in lifts, on the radio – Why do Carpenters songs suddenly appear? I wondered to myself. Next was Quando x 3, followed by a great version of Sunny with good piano and a pleasing bass guitar solo from Stuart Davies. Then Old Black Magic followed by The Girl from You-Know-Where with another nice bass solo and (just for you, Lance) Summertime with more fine piano playing from Dean. As I contemplated dessert, I was intrigued by the mention of Monkey Bread on the menu and considered requesting Too much Monkey Business to make a connection for the review but some how I didn’t think it would fit, so I had the cheese instead. The show was rounded off with what I know as the theme tune from Barry Norman’s Film 81/82/83 etc. A nice piece which always makes me nostalgic for those days when you didn’t have to listen to Mark Kermode going on about The Exorcist.

Overall, the show got a big thumbs-up from our table and from the audience generally. All the songs were beautifully sung and there was very fine support from the band, with Steve Doyle providing very well judged backing on his interestingly minimalist drum kit. Altogether a very enjoyable evening.

JC