Budtet @ Hoochie Coochie: November 24

Jude Murphy (vocals, alt sax, flute); Fiona Finden (vocals, sop sax); Stu Finden (ten sax); Lin Lee (piano); Jim Crinson (double bass); Eric Stutt (drums) Dave Weisser (cornet on last 2 numbers)
(Review by Ann Alex).

You get good value with this band, 2 singers, Fi for the more tender-hearted songs and Jude for the rockier offerings. Good stomping value, from the first item, The Message, solos all round and 4’s with tenor sax and drums, right through to the final numbers with guest Dave on muted cornet for Yardbird Suite and Take the  A Train. The cornet was never like this in brass bands!  

After the workout of that initial item, Jude began Moanin’, a spirited, dusky version with a bass solo, which totally suited the number. Fi told us that I Fall In Love Too Easily, Eric’s brushwork adding to the mood. Jude’s skilled flute playing came to the fore on Quiet Nights with Fi on vocals and Stu’s tenor sax nicely paraphrasing the flute - aided and abetted by bell-like cymbal sounds from the kit.  Adderley’s (Cannonball or Nat?) Teaneck (a place in New Jersey apparently) was followed by Fi singing All Blues, one of my favourite numbers of the night, which included Jude’s singing through the flute tones (how does she do it? - don't try this at home!) and great solos from piano, tenor sax, with the sax making sea-like sounds at the end. So Tired had the front line horns gyrating well in rhythm.

The dancers were up for the start of the second set, Hank Mobley’s This I Dig Of You, and the band did a full round of solos and 4’s. Then Fi sang her set of words about getting ready for a meeting for International Women’s Day, followed by Jude’s spirited vocals on Steely Dan’s Walk Between The Raindrops. The dancers stopped for Ellington’s Sound Of Love, obviously floored by the slowness of the tune, but they soon resumed for Jude’s Latin version of Days Of Wine And Roses, with her fantastically good scat singing.  And this was where Dave stepped up for Yardbird Suite, which rounded off with a pleasing duet from Fi and Jude. Take the A Train had a full band sound, many dancers, front line solos, and even a woman getting Lance up to dance. A fitting end to a great set.   

Ann Alex

Photos.