Alice Grace Quartet @ the Cherry Tree Restaurant - October 14.

Alice Grace (vcls); Pete Gilligan (pno); Paul Grainger (bs); Russ Morgan (dms).

(Review by Lance).

The Cherry Tree is noted, not only for fine dining, but also for cordon bleu jazz. Tonight was a tough call. Was it the Bistro Rump Steak, Traditional Garnish, Fries and Winemakers Butter or Alice Grace singing Blame it on my Youth? It was a difficult decision but, in the end, the steak was medium but the vocal was rare. 

The kitchen had opened the batting with Lamb and Pistachio Terrine, Spring Onion and Mint Relish.

They were really cookin' but so were Alice, the PGs and Russ! But Not For Me was good enough for me and One Note Samba, despite the title, had no shortage of notes - particularly from Gilligan who has them to spare.

The listeners in the audience loved Alice - don't we all? Morgan's exquisite brushwork was the equivalent of  a musical Renoir and Grainger's bass the canvas.

My Spiced Apple and Brandy Cake with Vanilla Ice Cream was about as good as it gets until Gilligan hit us with a solo on Mean to Me that was anything but mean! Alice threw in a scat chorus that any horn player would have been proud of.

Then there was In a Sentimental Mood and, but you've got the picture, you don't need a list, just make a note to catch this band whenever you can.
Photos.

Lance.