Dave
Weisser (trumpet & vocals), Don Forbes (trumpet), Rachel Richman (alto
saxophone), Barry Ascroft (keyboards), Ray Truscott (electric bass), Norman
Redhead (drums) & Matthew MacKellar (drums).
(Review by Russell)
Snow flakes skirting the Chilli,
someone called a couple of Jobim tunes – the wonderful juxtaposition wasn’t
lost (a chilly Chillingham to a cooking Copocabana). Jobim didn’t proceed
without discussion: Nah, scrap that, come
in last beat, fourth bar. You couldn’t make it up! Drummer Norman Redhead
had seen and heard it all before, taking it in his stride. Weisser decided to
opt out of Joy Spring
Trumpeter Don Forbes and Rachel
Richman (alto) braved the elements and their arrival signalled something like a
band. Wayne Shorter’s One by One
upped matters, Forbes in blistering form from the off. MacKellar handled the
fours no problem and the revitalised Weisser played good, muted trumpet.
Forbes’ recent gig at the Jazz
Café featured a couple of Stan Tracey numbers and it was good to hear them
again so soon (Pen Pals and I Lost My Step in Nantucket are so good
they could be mistaken for compositions by one of Tracey’s American jazz
idols). In an aside Weisser asked Ascroft: How
does it [Pen Pals] go again? Quick
as a flash Ascroft sang the verse. Bassist Ray Truscott contributed a subtle
solo and Mr Weisser added a beautiful vocal coda.
The between-tunes patter is all
but legendary; Weisser telling the tale of the time he got the sack after one
day into a cruise ship gig. The man should publish his memoirs! The classic
story isn’t the sole preserve of DW. Peter, a keen supporter of the music,
informed Bebop Spoken Here of his recent encounter with a motorcycle and
sidecar (rider with flapping headgear) and a basket of pigeons…I’ll have a pint
of what he’s drinking!
MacKellar’s use of brushes on Stella by Starlight belied his youth and
the veteran Weisser came up with the verse (as always). When Sonny Gets Blue didn’t go without mishap – a trailing lead
caught underfoot almost brought music stands and microphones crashing to the
floor. Weisser informed us he must get down to the pound shop to get some
better tape. No expense spared! The tune featured a round of solos, MacKellar’s
brushwork and Richman on alto accompanying Weisser’s lyrics. Pianist Barry
Ascroft wrote Rascal aboard ship
(cruise as opposed to convict) many moons ago about an onboard rascal. He
couldn’t remember who. No matter, he and the band played it. It was better than
good. So many tunes (it’s a surprise the session gets through as many with all
the interruptions…go down to the bar and by the time you return the next tune
will yet to have started). A good session went out on Beautiful Love and Isn’t it
Romantic? Next week at the Chillingham promises who knows what!
Russell.
No comments :
Post a Comment