Mick
Shoulder (double bass), Emma Fisk (violin), James Birkett (guitar) & Giles
Strong (guitar).
(Review by Russell).
The first lunchtime concert
performance of the new academic year in King’s Hall. It couldn’t have got off
to a better start. The place was packed to the rafters (that’s real Old School rafters) and fresh-faced first
year students in attendance were blown way listening to Djangologie. Wow! These guys are so cool they said to themselves.
A female guitar student sat two
rows from the front. I love Gypsy jazz
she said. Bebop Spoken Here wondered if she had previously heard Djangologie.
She said she hadn’t. Well, our guitar student was in for a treat. Blues for DR, Swing 39, who could ask
for anything more?
Monsieur Mick Shoulder cheekily
dismissed ‘70’s housewife favourite’ Sacha Distel, suggesting the Frenchman crooned
‘quite tunelessly’. Monsieur Shoulder was quick to acknowledge him as a fine
jazz guitarist. Indeed he was. Check out Monsieur Distel’s jazz chops with John
Lewis on the recent vinyl reissue Afternoon
in Paris. So, Distel’s Ma Premiere
Guitare proved a point; the man could compose (and play), if not sing!
Cigano Bolero (comp. M.Shoulder) has rightly become a fixture in
the set, featuring, as it does, rhythm king Giles Strong taking the lead. James
Birkett played a blinder – what’s new? Emma Fisk – is there anyone finer? Nope!
You will not hear better.
After the opening number a group
of young (primary school) students filed-in, sat on the floor and were transfixed
by the music and, quite possibly, perplexed as to how an adult could have such
poor command of the French language (Monsieur Shoulder!). Joking aside, the
kids from Moorside
Community Primary
School
As a finale, Mire Pral segued into Le Yeux
Noir. It works every time – thunderous applause, encore won. Trés bon!
Russell.
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