George
Anyfantis (keys); Keith Barrett (guitar); Karen Rann (sop sax); Jeff Smith (ten
sax); Dave
Parker (bass); Mark Robertson (reader, guest drummer); Off Key (novel)
(Review by Ann Alex/Photo courtesy of Debra M)
It’s
not often that a novel is part of a jazz band, but tonight it was the star of
the show. The second set consisted of
relevant tunes, interspersed with readings from Mark, the author of Off Key, who hopped between the drum kit
and the reading stool, even breaking into song during one of the readings, a
well-sung snatch of Skylark.
This was
a very enjoyable event, especially for those of us who’d read the novel, which
is summed up well by the front cover description ‘The greatest story ever told
about Love ...and Jazz (in Sunderland).’ I’d advise everyone not to miss out on
this really good read, a love story with some pathos, and even a character
called Crombie in one scene.
The
readings were carefully arranged so that no spoilers were given. The members of
the jazz band in the novel were described, hilarious episodes were read, such
as the skeleton practical joke and the night the band played at a male
strippers do. Sadder pieces included a
quarrel that the lovers had about
money. The supporting music included
such numbers as Scrapple From The Apple;
Perdido; Blue Trane; Work Song and a superb version of Skylark, with a soulful tenor opening from Jeff, flowing piano and
suitably gentle drums. The music was
skilled, as always from this band, right through to the final chord played long
and strong from everyone.
In
the first set, the band did their stuff well on such numbers as Softly As In A Morning Sunrise; a
wonderfully boppy I Mean You; Footprints;
Take The A Train; Song For My Father; Tenor Madness. Good solos all round. I especially liked Footprints, which had an eastern type of feel, especially from the
saxes, and was dream-like and even slightly disturbing. The newer members of the band, Keith on
guitar and George on keys, did themselves credit in their solos. Readers will
have gathered that the Blue Jazz Quintet is now a sextet, and none the worse
for that.
Ann Alex
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