Jan Clarkson (vcl/tpt/uke); John Fordham (ten/vln); Alex Douglas (tmb/washboard); Vince Hurley (pno); Ken Smith (bs); Peter Rowell (dms); Rebecca Grant (vcl) + Dancers.
(Review by Lance).
This was one helluva Bueno Sera! It had been a few years since I last heard The Jive Aces and age cannot wither nor custom stale their infinite variety (one of Shakey's better chat-up lines - approx.)
This was a roller-coaster ride that took us from the opening When Your Smiling to Oh Marie and the interval. I don't know how the band felt but we, the audience, were exhausted!
Hurley on piano is the most acrobatic pianist I've ever seen - he did everything but do handstands on the piano stool. I think he may have done that on a previous gig or maybe it will be the next one. Never missing a beat in the process I hasten to add!
These guys are big on Scientology but they're also pretty hip to Choreography and, whilst tenorman Fordham is not averse to a spot of Ornithology his true forte is Rockinrollology as played by Sam Butera - Louis Prima's one time tenor player.
Prima is the band's main influence although Louis Jordan and Bobby Darin have their say too. This could go on forever such are the delights of this bunch of musical madmen.
They rock, they roll,
They jump, they jive,
They sing, they swing,
They keep music alive.
Rebecca Grant sashayed forth to add her voice to that of front-man Clarkson on I Want You to Be My Baby, discarded her bolero with the panache of a high class stripper during Too Darn Hot and finished her spot with Nothing's Too Good For My Baby - we loved her.
Oh Baby and Beyond the Sea a la Bobby got the rock rolling again before the delectable Rebecca returned, bolero back on her shoulders for A Tisket a Tasket a la Ella. Rebecca stayed with it for the rest of the set which also featured a couple of swing dancers who worked out on Flying Home as did Fordham.
Drummer Rowell did his thing on Sing! Sing! Sing! and joined in with Smith the bass for the traditional Ray Bauduc/Bob Haggart treatment of Big Noise From Winnetka. This brought the show to a close and who cared that it was snowing? We, like those on stage, had had a ball.
The band have a new CD available - as we were frequently reminded - King of the Swingers. A review will follow shortly.
Lance.
PS: The above are just a few of the highlights - there was also the Skiffle session with Fordham on violin and trombone man Douglas sliding over to washboard. As well as singing, blowing trumpet Clarkson also played ukelele.
PS: The above are just a few of the highlights - there was also the Skiffle session with Fordham on violin and trombone man Douglas sliding over to washboard. As well as singing, blowing trumpet Clarkson also played ukelele.
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