(Review by Russell/photo courtesy of Mike Tilley).
‘Have you met Ms Lambert? Mr Stockdale let me introduce you to Ruth
Lambert. Ruth, this is Dean. Pleased to meet you’ Saturday night at the
Jazz Café, Ruth Lambert, well established on the scene, met up with pianist
Dean Stockdale for the first time to play a set of standards. Vocalist
Lambert’s pad numbers a couple of hundred songs or so. The newly formed duo
talked through a few tunes, scribbled down some favourites and they were ready
to go to work.
Like Someone in Love, My Funny Valentine, What is This Thing Called
Love? The duo worked well together from the off. Lambert’s distinctive
phrasing demands the best of any accompanist and Stockdale was learning on the
stand, quickly getting to grips with the vocalist’s magical timing and innate
sense of swing. Ms Lambert sings the blues as well as anyone and would you
believe it, Stockdale plays a mean piano blues? Lambert, Stockdale and Ms
Bonnie Raitt’s Love Me Like a Man.
Almost Like Being in Love, Gee
Baby, Ain’t I Good to You? (Stockdale went to town on the blues) and Taking a Chance on Love (excellent
stride piano) heard the duo at their best, albeit the latter number fell apart
at the end. Who cares? For a first meeting this was a fantastic gig, Autumn
Leaves came as a request; Lambert poignantly referred to her friend, the
late Paul Gamblin. The tune will, for Ms Lambert, forever be associated with
the guitarist. An up tempo number – Come
Fly with Me – floated us down to Peru where the air is rarefied
(paraphrased!). Has Nelson Riddle’s arrangement ever been bettered?
Teach Me Tonight – the realisation that Lambert can sing this one
in a duo and in front of a big band. Class. A dark rendition of Round Midnight (at about eleven) and to
close, the upbeat ‘S Wonderful. ‘S Wonderful indeed.
If Lambert and Stockdale don’t do
it again then I’m Frank Sinatra... Come
fly with me, fly me to the…
Russell.
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