Lindsay Hannon (vocal); Mark Williams (guitar)
(Review/photo by
Steve H.)
Standing room only at the Caff on Saturday night for the pairing of
Hannon on vocals and Williams on guitar, although this was a very different
guitar player to the one I saw with The Mark Williams trio on Thursday night at
the Jazz Coop (review here). The
Thursday night Williams really exploits the full range of what can be done with
the Jazz guitar whereas the Saturday night one played as a very sympathetic
accompanist to the great vocal talent of Lindsay Hannon.
Looking at photographs
of both nights I can confirm that it is one and the same person. Luckily unlike
his trio’s drummer Russ Morgan whose barnet has undergone major surgery Mark
looked almost identical from two days before. His partner in crime on Saturday has
had a spectacular hair transformation going from blonde to what can only be
described as tutti fruitti. Aside from this digression on the art of coiffure,
the music on offer was superb. My only grumble was with the trio next to me who
made more noise than those poor folks who frequent St James’ Park nowadays. I
know it is free to get in and that it is nice to see a large audience but if
you ask me it is darn right rude, not only to those wanting to listen, but also
to the musicians.
The duo performed a selection of standards old and new such as The
Spy, Bye Bye Blackbird and my own personal favourite Anais Mitchell’s Old
Fashioned Hat. Lindsay’s voice and phrasing really does lend itself to this
type of material. As a special bonus James Harrison, the pianist from The
Lindsay Hannon Plus, was in the hood and the evening was rounded off perfectly
as he played a duet with Lindsay on I Only Have Eyes For
You. The final piece of the evening saw all 3 musicians come together to
perform Tom Waits’ Romeo is Bleeding.
Steve.
Should have gone, should have gone, should have gone ........
ReplyDeleteYup. I should have been there too.
ReplyDelete