(Review by Russell)
The Strictly Smokin’ session at
the Millstone is fast becoming the ‘must get to’ gig on the local scene, second
only to the band’s all too infrequent appearances at Hoochie Coochie. Word of
mouth has ensured all seats are taken in advance of the seven o’clock start in
the upstairs room of the Haddricks
Mill Road hostelry. Arrive early to bag a seat.
One or two deps (to be expected
in a band of this size) spiced it up a bit and MD Michael Lamb went to and fro
– trumpet section to rostrum – keeping an eye/ear on developments. For openers – Song for My Father and the sing-a-long Sweet Georgia Brown.
Vocalist James Hedley couldn’t
hang around so he got his quota in early; Beyond
the Sea and Fly Me to the Moon (Keith
Robinson flute intro). Trumpeter Pete Tanton took several cracking solos, the
first of them on an excellent arrangement of After You’ve Gone. Dizzy popped up with Night in Tunisia and Hedley signed-off with Almost Like Being in Love.
Interval: a chat with Kath J,
John T, Tony, Lucy, Mary, Peter, Phil, Barry A, the barmaid (another pint of
Rivet Catcher, please).
Second set: Veronica Lake
arrived. In Guy Swinton’s absence ex-pat American trumpeter Pete Tanton
announced the programme. The band played In
the Mood. Tanton explained that the arrangement was the one used by Doc
Severinsen on Tonight (Johnny
Carson). A plethora of soloists stood up throughout the evening, not a weak
link in sight (a sure sign of a first rate band). Ms Lake (the wonderful
Lindsay Hannon) took to the microphone. A tune or two (Makin’ Whoopee and I’ve Got
You Under My Skin) and LH was done, such is the nature of a public
rehearsal session. One tune caught the ear – El Caborojeno. This Bob Mintzer tune has to be heard again (thanks
to PT for the correct spelling of El C…!).
February’s session (26th), always the last Thursday in the month, is certain to
be every bit as good. Seven o’clock sharp.
Russell.
Michael
Lamb, Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey & Pete Tanton (trumpets), Mark Ferris,
Dr John Flood, Caroline Norris, Kieran Parnaby (trombones), Paul Gowland (tenor
saxophone), Jamie Toms (tenor saxophone), Keith Robinson (alto saxophone,
flute), Steve Summers (alto saxophone), Chris Karberry (baritone saxophone),
Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar), Graham Don (keyboards), Michael Whent (electric
bass), Steve Wall (drums), James Hedley (vocals) & Lindsay Hannon (vocals)
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