(Review by Lance/Photo Courtesy/copyright of William Ellis)
As John Cumming of Serious said when introducing the final Sage One concert of the Gateshead International Jazz Festival 2018, "Georgie Fame was the 1960's pop star who most combined jazz and the pop music of the day" (or words to that effect) and I had to agree with him which was why I was eagerly sitting in Row S awaiting the appearance of the 74-year-old, still swinging (we hoped), superstar.
We weren't disappointed. He may have shuffled on like a man in the September of his years but the voice was still in midsummer. It was Yeh Yeh it was, which was the opening number.
This was better than the 1964 chart-topping single - this one had an extended tenor solo by Paul Booth.
The lyric to Yeh Yeh was by Jon Hendricks who was never far away spiritually. Hendricks also provided the vocalese lyric to Sometimes I'm Happy which was based on a Lester Young solo.
Screamin' Jay Hawkins' I Put a Spell on You had Fame reminiscing about Radio Caroline and meeting The Animals when they first came down to London. Strangely, given that he was in the northeast, he made no reference to the duo he formed with Alan Price some years later. Graeme Blevins blew cool tenor on this one.
Harry South arranged Basie's Little Pony with, once again, Hendricks supplying the words to the Wardell Gray tenor solo. Sammy Mayne had a blast on alto.
Guy Barker had certainly put together an all-star crew and guitarist Jim Mullen was featured on a Fame original, Blues at the Bull (Barnes). Despite recent ill-health (I'm told), Jim was in fine form and, on his day, there's none better - this was his day. Barnaby Dickinson also kicked in.
The star edged Jim Watson off the piano stool for an original, rather beautiful, ballad - I'll Sing You. GASbook material if ever there was, sung in a voice that has lost none of its once youthful charm. Gardner-Bateman on alto and a chorus or two of Jumping With Symphony Sid didn't do any harm either.
Cool Cat Blues and more tenor from that coolest of cats Paul Booth.
The LHR/Basie songbook provided Down for the Count and Blues Backstage (Blevins tenor). Interval time. A brief hello/handshake with Paul Booth. Some BSH PR work by Tony Eales with a couple from Darlo and a chance to gloat over the GBBB personnel with Russell and Patti.
Back into Sage One and an original entitled Vinyl which recalled memories, not only of the comeback kid format - AKA LP - but also of Ray's Jazz Record Shop in London.
Although the music up to now had been unashamedly jazz I still wasn't sure if it was a jazz or a pop audience. I got the answer when the unmistakable intro to The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde brought in that 1967 hit. Poppers would have applauded upon recognition whereas jazzers would save their applause for the solos - it was a jazzers' night!
Like Yeh Yeh this was even better than the original. Apart from the song I love the narrative lyric: Bonnie and Clyde got to be Public Enemy Number One, Running and hiding from every American lawman's gun etc."
And so the night rocked on. Everyone having a ball. A few memories about the late Steve Gray from Middlesbrough who collaborated with Fame on several projects. A song called Will Carling so named because it sounded a bit like Li'l Darlin' and a musical, Singer, based around Madeline Bell.
Papa's Got a Brand New Bag had Booth and Blevins in a two-tenor madness lift-off whilst City Life had some blistering trumpet from Tom Rees-Roberts.
Declaration of Love was so romantic and the final Rockin' Chair saw Georgie Fame alone at the piano as, one by one, the band packed up and left.
Stage-managed, I know, but still quite poignant.
An evening to remember what with Sheila Jordan in the afternoon, Georgie Fame in the evening and The House of the Black Gardenia in between it had been a Day to Remember!
Oh and yes, before Georgie Fame appeared, the GBBB gave an inspired performance of a Basie/Hefti style arrangement of I Can't Stop Loving You - and neither can we stop loving Georgie, Guy and the band!
Come back again soon.
Lance.
Georgie Fame (vocal/piano); Guy Barker (trumpet/MD); Nathan Bray, Tom Rees-Roberts, Pat White (trumpets); Winston Rollins, Barnaby Dickinson, Nichol Thomson, Mark Frost (trombones); Sammy Mayne, James Gardner-Bateman (altos); Graeme Blevins, Paul Booth (tenors); Colin Skinner (baritone); Jim Watson (piano); Alec Dankworth (bass); Jim Mullen (guitar); James Powell (drums).
1 comment :
Totally agree Lance,a fantastic night. If there's a cooler 70 something guy in the world I'd be amazed. What a tremendous singer . You tend to forget how good some of the old guys are but Mr Fame underlined the ability it takes to sustain a very high level of musicality and singing
An all star band produced some terrific solos. Jim Mullen played an excellent solo as well
John Forster.
Post a Comment