Budtet @ The Globe - May 7.

Fiona Finden (sop/vcl); Jude Murphy (alt/fl/vcl); Stuart Finden (ten); Lin-Lee Wong (pno); Jim Crinson (bs); Eric Stutt (dms) + Dave Weisser (cor).

(Review by Lance.)

In the beginning, there was Budvivar which begat The Budtones which begat Budtet which during the course of this session became Budwei(s)ser!

A good crowd at the Jazz Coop's HQ were treated to some hard blowing bebop and beyond from the horns, vocals from Jude and Fi, delightfully delicate piano from Lin-Lee, rock steady bass from King Crinson and super stickwork from the legend that is Eric Stutt. Everyone had fun and, if this is the band's debut gig, then the future looks good.

Not content with wailing on alto and the occasional vocal, Jude also took on the mantle of Ian Anderson with some throaty fluting. On one number, maybe Groovin' High, or was it Night in Tunisia? Jude took a scat chorus and Fiona complemented it with a burst of vocalese!

Also included were numbers by Nat Adderley, Miles Davis and Steely Dan's Donald Fagin as well as Stuart Finden's Stu's Blues.

Stu blew top notch tenor, bobbing and weaving like Amir Khan before he (Khan) was knocked out cold! In Stu's case, it was the audience who were knocked out! This was the first time I'd encountered Lin-Lee Wong and her piano solos and her comping added to the ambience.

And still there was more!

Dave Weisser, not only acted as doorman, but augmented the band with his distinctive Milesian cornet playing.

This was one very enjoyable gig and good to see BSH's Ann Alex in attendance prior to her upcoming op.

Photos.
Lance.