An embarrassment of riches @ The Jazz Café - March 21

(Review/Photos by Russell).

This one was off the scale! Hanoi Pete created an opening for a budding piano dep. Step forward Mr James Harrison. Superb piano playing from the off – A Train, Our Love is Here to Stay, tonight was going to be good. A cast of thousands assembled in the wings, Ray Johnson (flugelhorn) got in there early – Softly, As in a Morning Sunrise with Harrison fleetingly quoting Puttin’ on the Ritz.

David Gray, trombone, does Latin (DG does anything and everything). Mr Strictly Smokin’ Michael Lamb, trumpet, joined DG on Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (Harrison incorporating something like a stride pattern), up jumped Alex Saxon on flute, drummer Matt MacKellar joined the party, the show was well and truly on the road. The joint jumpin’, this, the Jazz Café jam session the greatest free show in town!

Up jumped Paul Skerritt, perhaps the one man to match Harrison for sheer enthusiasm. Sway with Vince Webb at the upright, Skerritt and an A-list horn section of Lamb, Gray and Saxon (on alto on this one) upped the ante. The impressive Webb took it down on Tenderly joined by JP (John Pope) on something like a McCoy Tyner vibe. Radio star Debra Milne walked in with a bebop chart, then Lindsay Hannon did her thing on I Can’t Give You Anything but Love with Harrison resuming piano duties. Multi reeds maestro Steve Summers tried out his new toy - a baritone sax! Give him a week or two and he’ll be as proficient on it as he is on alto, soprano, clarinet, EWI, etc etc.

Who else? Oh, yes! Jamie Toms – excellent on tenor, Dave McKeague, drums, the business, then, at the death, Arthur Higgins on tenor. The rhythm boys, Messrs Paul Grainger, bass, and drummer Russ Morgan as good as ever. Time please! But not before Skerritt fronted a mini big band on Let the Good Times Roll. One observer commented: It has been an embarrassment of riches. Quite.           

Russell

James Harrison (piano), Paul Grainger (double bass) & Russ Morgan (drums) + in no particular order (truthfully, can’t remember!)…Ray Johnson (flugelhorn), Michael Lamb (trumpet), David Gray (trombone), Vince Webb (piano), Matt MacKellar (drums), Alex Saxon (flute & alto saxophone), Stuart Collingwood (piano), Steve Summers (baritone saxophone), Jamie Toms (tenor saxophone), John Pope (double bass), Dave McKeague (drums), Arthur Higgins (tenor saxophone), Paul Skerritt (vocals), Debra Milne (vocals) & Lindsay Hannon (vocals)