Southport Jazz Festival: Ben Cox Band - February 5

Ben Cox (vocal), Matt Davies (sax), Jamie Safir (piano), Flo Moore (acoustic and electric bass, backing vocals), Will Glaser (drums).

(Review by Steve T/Photos courtesy of Neil Hughes, © Robert Burns)

On paper, this was the one that appealed to me the least and so it proved. Sorry guys and gal but I prefer instrumental Jazz and get my fix of singers mostly from soul.

But what a lovely way to spend a Sunday morning. I thought I'd missed the start but arrived just in time for the introductions and flitted about during Pennies from Heaven, sorting out water for my assortment of pills – the penalty of a misspent youth - trying to find out whether the hotel had forgotten my wake-up call or if I'd slept through it and what to do for breakfast.

Asda pineapple with Lead the Way, an original and not half bad, chatting about all things with Count (Tony) Eales and a lady from the Wigan Jazz Festival, my wife’s hometown though she doesn't eat pies or gamble, but knows the rules for both types of rugby.  

You Turned the Tables on Me, through the prism of Ella Fitzgerald and Joe Pass with cappuccino followed by a much improved Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears, the first time I've heard Flo Moore play electric bass, and doing backing vocals too.

Flo is never less than impressive, ditto the rest of the band, and Cox is a safe pair of hands with an impressive range who handles an audience with ease. If he's more Bublé (dare I offer Olly Murs?) than Sinatra, it was perfect programming for this particular slot and the audience, at just about capacity, relished it.

A Foggy Day in London Town and A Nightingale in Berkeley Square were right up his street. Way of Life features Liane Carol on the record but she sat it out here.

Part two began with Ben and impressive pianist Jamie Safir with the old Motown stalwart How Sweet it Is. A short search for the rest of the band and the walk of shame as the audience jovially delivered a slow hand-clap. 

Round and Round, written for his niece, was a very impressive original followed by one of the Steely Dan hits (I think); something about Back Jack. I Get a Kick was back squarely in his comfort zone before Funny How Time Slips Away, by lots of people but you must check it by Rueben Howell, lush Country Soul and blue-eyed too, at an educated guess.

As I guarded a camera for someone, Liane Carroll finally turned up like a one-woman choir for a rousing finale, her earthy realness proving infectious and spreading through the band, exchanging scatting with Ben, some blue piano, a smoking sax solo, solid drumming and Flo Moore - 'nuff said.

Clearly a highlight of the festival for many.

Steve T.

Photos.