PG3 + 2 @ Salsa Café February 8

Pete Gilligan (Keys) Paul Grainger (D.Bass) Steve Summers (Sop & Tenor Sax) Don Forbes (Trumpet)  Tim Johnston (Drums)

(Review by Kath Jobes).

Salsa Café was buzzing when I arrived, my friend Emma had managed to get a table near the front, close enough to smell the saxes! Steve Summers had brought along two plus his usual selection of percussion for the Latin numbers… already I could see this was going to be a good night! 

Don Forbes led the band off with a lively There Will Never Be Another You, then came the first of several Horace Silvers numbers… and Pete was in his element with Silver’s Serenade.  Tokyo Blues saw a superb trumpet solo from Don and I was so impressed I missed the name of the next number… sometimes I’m just having too much fun!  

Summer in Central Park continued the Silver theme, and one could almost see the silvery sparkles as Pete Gilligan tinkled lightly over the keys to this gentle tune. Quick Silver was lively and demonstrated the skills of each member of the band as they exchanged 4s... I love the way these guys just bring a smile as they introduce a quick riff of Oh You Beautiful Doll near the end of the tune… truly delightful! A change of sax to soprano for Steve Summers and a gorgeously gentle and haunting account of Lonely Woman that was followed by Beautiful Love to bring the first set to a close.

Set two saw the percussion talents of Stevie Summers as he played Cabasa during Liberated Brother, while Tim Johnstone used mallets and softly set the Latin groove. This groove continued and during Nica’s Dream Steve played both Pandeiro and Sop Sax, switching seamlessly from one to the other.  I Remember Clifford saw the return of the tenor to accompany Don Forbes, and then the band took us to Nutville before another gentle ballad aptly named Peace.   It seemed that peace didn’t last for long as the band struck up a lively rendition of Oleo.  The final number saw the return of a delightful riff this time from singing in the rain… yes indeed, it was of course Come Rain or Come Shine… and shine they did. As Paul Gowland, who arrived towards the end of the night, having been working elsewhere, then proceeded to write on my notepad at the end of my notes… Band was Brill!

Kath J.