SSBB w. Scarlet Street @ Hoochie Coochie - March 19

(Review by Kath G)

This was a superb event and one that I will put on my list of top gigs for this year! The SSBB and Scarlet Street, simply stupendous! The dancers flocked to this one, and the floor was full… in fact the joint was jumping and full to the rafters!

I am often delighted by the versatility of the SSBB and their varied contempory and traditional sounds, this gig was no exception… the introduction of a EWI (Electronic Wind Instrument) in the first number Pronk was simply fabulous.  I have previously heard Courtney Pine play one, and believe me, Steve Summers could give him a run for his money on this one… WOW!  Indeed, Strike up the Band!  A selection of delights from Miss Alice Grace followed, Somebody Loves Me, That Ole Devil Called Love, Heat of the Moment and Can’t We Be Friends, with equally delightful solos from Paul Gowland, Steve Summers, Keith Robinson, Jamie Toms and Michael Lamb.

Spain gave Paul Gowland the opportunity to play his Soprano Sax, and then the next delight of the night joined the stage for the final 3 numbers of the first set – F’reez with Gambling Man Blues, solos from Michael Lamb and Graham Don, This Is Not For You, featuring Pawel Jedrezejewski and Dave McKeague and Grass is Greener with a lovely piano solo from Graham Don.

A short break and not only was it A Very Good Year, Miss Grace, solo fron Jamie Toms, but yes Lets Do It, featuring Keith Robinson on Clarinet, yeah… hot!  Too Darn Hot, with muted Trumpet from Pete Tanton, cooled down by some F’reez and L-O-V-E only to bring out the sun again with Sunny.  So what’s next… as F’reez said… “This is something else!”

The lovely ladies of Scarlet Street, Jennifer Davies, Cherie Gears, Marina Gears and the exquisite Alice Grace. SSBB accompanied Sunny Side of the Street, Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree and then the ladies sang a capella - Mr Sandman…WOW!  This sure did make me Happy… Barber pop at its best!

A slightly longer break and onto set 3 commencing with the band introducing the Scarlet Street song, Don’Cha Go ‘Way Mad.  Next up came Michael Lamb featured as, The Boogie Woogie Bugal Boy and then F’reez took to the stage again with I’ve Got You Under My Skin and The Mood I’m In; he then joined the lovely ladies, to sing Accentuate the Positive. 

A final trio of delights by Scarlet Street brought the house down… I Could Write a Book featuring Pete Tanton… come to think of it, he did write a book, I know this, it’s on my bookshelf – Johnny Lonely!  One Way Or Another … raptuous applause and then Jen agreed she had ‘one more in her’ (Thankfully her little girl did not put in an early appearance) so the final one, was a bit of a surprise!  Single Ladies.

Patti Durham had the final word… A stormin’ stonkin’ blast!

Kath G.