(Review by Lance.).
What is there left to say about these guys? The adjectives in the Jazz Lexicon have long been exhausted so, until Mr Webster adds a few more to his dictionary, I'm tempted to cop out with Too Marvelous for Words.
But that would be cheating and as this band doesn't cheat musically then neither shall I.
A program of the tried and tested intermingled with the, at least to me, less familiar. Such a piece was the opening Pianistics. A feature for Graham Don on keys along the lines of Basie's The Kid From Redbank. It got the show on the road with a bang and soon the packed room were tripping the light fantastic. Skirts a-swirling, hips a-twirling, applause unfurling the bar had been set high!
Warren was smiling, the cocktails were flowing and Lindsay was singing I'm Beginning to See the Light.
James Hedley and F'reez proclaimed Let the Good Times Roll - they rolled!
Apart from the superb vocals that peppered the program so did the solos - as ever the saxes were to the fore with Gowland and Robinson heavily featured and Summers, Toms and my old buddy Laurie also having their meaningful say.
Trumpet blasts from Leader Lamb and Tanton, P. High notes from Marshall, G and trombonistics from Parnaby, K fused with PJ on guitar, Whent, M on bass guitar and that Guy Swinton on drums (and announcements) kept the temperature high.
And of course the section men without whom the sound wouldn't be there.
Three sets? Twenty Three wouldn't have been too many - for the audience!
They're back in September,
Lance.
Steve Summers, Keith Robinson (alt); Paul Gowland , Jamie Toms (ten); Laurie Rangecroft (bar); Gordon Marshall, Michael Lamb (MD), Pete Tanton, Dick Stacey (tpt); Mark Ferris, Kieran Parnaby, Robert Perry, John Flood (tmb); Graham Don (pno); Pawel Jedrzejewski (gtr); Michael Whent (bs); Guy Swinton (dms); Lindsay Hannon, F'reez & James Hedley (vocals).
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