Jason Isaacs (vocal/tenor) + Steve Norman (tenor/vocal); the Fenner Sisters (backing vocals); Dorothy Ellis (vocal); The Ambassadors of Swing.
Darren Irwin (trumpet/MD); Dave Hignett, Mark Webb (trumpets); Don Failey, Dave Brock, Alan Brady (trombones); Sue Ferris, Lewis Watson, Steve Blythe (reeds); Stuart Collingwood (piano); Neil Harland (bass); Rod Sinclair (guitar); Simon Ferry (drums).
(Review by Lance).
The Ambassadors of Swing put us In The Mood for the world's most athletic, on stage, performer - Jason Isaacs. The ten foot tall (or thereabouts) singer bounded on to the stage well inside the Olympic record for bounding on stages and he did it Side Ways!
The Lady is a Tramp was almost choreographed as some latecomers arrived, as if on cue, during the line She loves the theatre but never comes late. And who would come late for a show like this? The Best is Yet to Come and a chorus of Come Fly With me in Geordie (...And if ye cud use sum exotic booze then we'll gan doon to Whitley Bay) followed. Why Don't You Do Right? had our boy blowing tenor as well as singing. Let there be Love, I've Got You Under my Skin ( Nelson Riddle arrangement with the legendary trombone break) and a belting Cheek to Cheek.
The band were superb, led by by trumpeter Darren Irwin, depping for Mick Donnelly who was on the road with Lisa Stansfield, they filled the, not always acoustically perfect, City Hall with the great big band sound that was once the norm in this much loved building.
Mr Bojangles, the B side of his new single, quite a poignant song put over well. The Fenner Sisters provided the Hi-de-His and Ho-de-Hos (along with the audience) on Minnie the Moocher.
Elvis' American Trilogy, always an emotive piece, preceded Me and my Shadow - a duet with Dorothy Ellis - before Mack the Knife and Bad Bad Leroy Brown brought the set to a close.
This show was just something else! Forget Bublé and the current crop of Rat Packers - Isaacs is the real deal.
Despite being annoyed that the bar staff had disposed of the BSH cards which I'd scattered around the tables and ledges, fortified by a (plastic) glass of Chardonnay, I returned to Row P ready for more goodies.
And goodies they were indeed!
It Don't Mean a Thing - the Fenners looked lovely doing the Do Wah Do Wahs but would have benefited from a tad more volume - Beyond the Sea, For Once in my Life and the A side of the single, Too Marvellous For Words, - you can download it for £1.29!
The band were let loose on Sweet Georgia Brown with Lewis Watson having a good blast, Jason and the Fens returned for That's Life. Jason blew on Jump Jive and then sang Hit The Road Jack. We certainly didn't!
Next guest was Spandau Ballet's saxman Steve Norman - You're Indestructible from the Spandau Ballet Songbook and a stirring sax duel between the two singers - honours even.
Invariably we had My Way and, of course, New York New York.
Start spreading the news the single's out today and it's just Too Marvellous for Words!...
Lance.
4 comments :
Thanks for that lance . Very kind words . I know it's not a jazz gig so it's all the kinder of you. Thanks for coming. I love bebop spoken here! Keep up the great work .
Echo all you've said here Lance and eloquently pu., Love the Saxman line too, will pass that on to Steve if you'd let me!
Couldn't have put it better myself - and lovely to meet you in person after all these years! You're on the guest list any time! X
By all means pass it on Mr Marketing...
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