A Gardenia for Lady Day: Cecile Mclorin Salvant Sage Hall 2 Thursday October 25

Cecile Mclorin Salvant (vocals); Enrico Tomasso (trumpet/cornet); Jean-Francois Bonnel  (ten/alt sax and clarinet);  Martin Litton (piano); Roly Veitch (guitar); Manu Hagmann (bass); Richard Pite (drums). (Review by Ann Alex).

What a good time was had by all!  Nearly every seat on all three levels of Hall 2 was occupied for this tribute to Billie Holiday, sung by Ms Mclorin Salvant, who was an attractive, elegant lady in red, with large-framed spectacles.  Her voice has many vocal colours, sweet and persuasive, pleadingly sad, then wonderfully dark and rich in the lower ranges.  The emphasis was on the songs that Billie sang in the 1930’s, a relatively happier time of her life.  Our singer brought her own style to the songs, with effective interpretations.  I felt that she could have had an alternative career as an actor.

And what of the musicians?  To say that they were well up to the job would be an understatement.  They were a great band in their own right, very entertaining and skilled, teaming well with the singer.  Outstanding solos from Bonnel, of whom one person said was the nearest thing to Lester Young he’d ever heard, and Tomasso on both trumpet and cornet, they looked as if they were really enjoying themselves – we certainly were!.

The Swiss bass player hummed along gently to his own bowing in a manner, one of my colleagues said, that was reminiscent of Slam Stewart.  Litton, a skilled pianist of many styles, Pite, a drummer who knew instinctively when to be discreet with cymbals and brushes and when to let rip for his solos. Towards the end of the concert he even juggled with the drumsticks.  I thought I’d had too much to drink, then realised it was really happening.  And of course, on guitar, our own Roly Veitch, who acquitted himself with honours, especially in the trio number featuring Cecile accompanied only by acoustic guitar and clarinet - I Can’t Believe That You’re in Love With Me. Roly's chordal solos, I'm told, brought to mind Carl Kress or Dick McDonough. Whatever, they sounded good to me!

In a performance which was rich in evocative songs it’s difficult to pick out specials, but the first song boded well for the rest of the gig - A Sailboat in the Moonlight and You. Lover Come Back to Me opened with just voice and bass, and I wondered how on earth the singer knew when to come in!  The trumpet on this was tremendous! There were 2 lighter songs, some would call them novelty songs, Twenty Four Hours a Day and Miss Brown to You.  I wish more singers would do these little gems, as they add lightness to the more serious material. On The Sentimental Side was played with the sax following the voice and some tender trumpet.  The second half opened well with a gutsy version of I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues.  If Dreams Come True was dedicated to Lester Young, and “The nearest thing to Lester Young” certainly is a “presidential candidate”.  The gig rounded off with a lively Them There Eyes. A well deserved encore, On the Sunny Side of the Street, gave band and singer a last chance to let rip.

This was a great pre-party event before the main Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party, which starts today (Friday October 26).  Fully booked now, sorry, people who missed getting tickets and, please note, already tickets are going fast for next year.  Feel sorry for me, I’m working this weekend.

Ann Alex