Lindsay Hannon (vcls); James Harrison (p); John Pope
(db); Tom Chapman (drs)
(Review by JC).
A recent leg
operation meant that the Gateshead Jazz Festival was out of reach but a nice
compensation was that a trip to the Cherry Tree just up the road was possible.
Lindsay Hannon and the band were in great form, both in seeming to be enjoying
themselves and also playing very well. The first song was I Can't Give You Anything But Love and James Harrison quickly
showed his intent by launching into a full-blooded solo demonstrating how his
playing continues to develop at a fast pace. What is great about Lindsay Hannon
and the band is that each of the songs, although mostly standards, has
individual touches added to it to give it something extra. Miss Otis Regrets was taken at a slow, soulful tempo full of
languid regret, while I Thought about You
had a moody double bass and voice intro which the drums and piano then took
into double time with Harrison seeming to go
into double, double time for his solo. Blues
in the Night had a saloon bar feel with touches of barrelhouse piano.
When it came to
the next song here was a slight incident at our table. One of my dining
companions is very knowledgeable about quite a lot of the Songbook so I often
check titles and composers with him. So when Lindsay Hannon started a song with
a bossa nova feel that I didn't recognise I leaned over and asked what the
title was. I was a little taken aback when he replied 'For Heaven's sake!' I
sat back wondering what I'd done but we managed to sort it out later. I didn't
know the next song either but I kept my counsel, however I liked the way it
ended with a gentle coda.
Get Out of Town featured a
fine solo from John Pope and some extra suggestions from Hannon. As well as 'on your mark, get set' she added 'Get a taxi'. I think she wanted to be
certain he got out of town. Next was a lovely version on What are You Doing the Rest of Your Life, followed by Secret Love, no doubt to celebrate Doris
Day's 90th birthday a few days earlier. Unfortunately, we couldn't stay for the
whole second half and left to the sounds of There
Will Never be Another You with a fine solo from Tom Chapman on the drums.
The food was
consistently excellent as usual and great value for the set menu. Word is
obviously spreading amongst young jazzers about the great musical and
gastronomic experience in the Cherry Tree on Monday nights as there were at
least six children under ten with a couple of them jiving their way down the
stairs. Could this be the new jazz audience at last!
JC
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