Jason Isaacs and the Ambassadors of Swing @ The Biscuit Room - May 9

Jason Isaacs (vcl/ten) w. Darren Irwin, Mark Webb (tpts); Don Fairley (tmb); Ray Dales (alt/fl); Lew Watson (ten); Stu Collingwood (pno); Keith Peberdy (bs gtr); Simon Ferry (dms) + Zita Frith (vcl).

(Review by Lance).

There's always a buzz of excitement in the room prior to a Jason Isaacs gig. The men - a minority group - have the cool clear eyes of a seeker of wisdom and truth (as the night enfolds the eyes become less clear) and the ladies, coiffured and killer-heeled, add to the sense of 'occasion'.

And it is an occasion! An ace crooner and an 8 piece band that sounds like 16 men swinging - what's not to like?

This is the Rat Pack packaged in a cool dude suit (from a tailor on Pilgrim Street) with a dash of Elvis thrown in for good measure. Who cares that you've heard it all before? What counts is the verve and vitality of the delivery, the enthusiasm for his work that is conveyed to and picked up by the crowd who respond by filling the dance floor.

Jay boy also blows good tenor - with the calibre of guys in the band behind him he'd fall flat on his face if he didn't!

Then there was Zita Frith who is a top performer in her own right.

All combined to make this a memorable evening at The Sands - sorry, I mean the Biscuit Room - but if you'd been there you'd realise it was a natural mistake for me to make.

Lance.