Stu Finden (tenor); Fiona Finden (sop/vocal); Jude Murphy (alto/flute/vocal); Dave Weisser (cornet/vocal); Lin Lee Wong (piano); Andrew 'Drew' Porritt (bass); Eric Stutt (drums).
(Review by Lance).
Budtet's guitarist didn't make the gig. Understandable as Budtet were a last-minute replacement after the all-girl Break Out Brass Band pulled out. So the octet became a septet albeit, like the band they were depping for, still with a strong - if not total - female presence.
The plus factor did remain with the addition of the legendary Dave Weisser playing muted cornet and singing in his inimitable way.
However, the star of the evening was the departing keyboard player, Lin Lee Wong. Ms Wong will be missed by both band and audience. Her final chorus on A Train a timely reminder of what we're losing.
The additional voice that Weisser's cornet brought filled out the front line giving Boplicity an ensemble sound that rivalled the original Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool recording.
The opening number, Hank Mobley's This I Dig of You had set the stall out with solos all round - a pattern that followed for all the instrumental numbers. Initially, the balance wasn't perfect - the sound engineer had phoned in sick - but it smoothed out as the evening progressed and my ears adjusted to the room's acoustics.
Weisser sang On Green Dolphin St, complete with unaccompanied verse. This was Dave in Mark Murphy mode. Later, he took on the role of Eddie Jefferson for Annie Ross' famous vocalese version of Wardell Gray's Twisted - unravel that one if you can.
Groovin' High was pure bebop with everyone diggin' deep. Fi Finden sang Quiet Nights. It was ok given that I think bossa novas are now mucho passé. More to my taste was You Go To My Head which, apart from Fi's fine vocal, had a sooper dooper solo from Lin Lee.
Dave, Jude and Fiona formed a vocal trio for Route 66 that took a few detours.
A Dave Weisser gig invariably includes a tale and tonight's story was of him driving to California (on Route 66) in a beat-up automobile that eventually burnt-out in San Bernadino. It was New Year's Eve and he ended up getting drunk in San Berdoo!
Jude went solo for Nick Drake's River Man, the band played All the Things You Are, Fiona sang Wes' Four on Six and the show drew to an emotional climax with the aforementioned A Train.
It had been an enjoyable evening all of the soloists impressing, Eric Stutt's drums as punchy as ever, Drew's bass providing the vital linchpin whilst Lin Lee's injections into his solos were both humourous and effective. Apart from her too few vocals, Jude stood out on flute and alto, Fiona wailed on soprano and Stu's tenor playing cried to be heard more often.
A joyous and yet sad night - Exeter, you owe us one. Not only do you annihilate our rugby team but you commandeer one of our best pianists!
Lance.
The plus factor did remain with the addition of the legendary Dave Weisser playing muted cornet and singing in his inimitable way.
However, the star of the evening was the departing keyboard player, Lin Lee Wong. Ms Wong will be missed by both band and audience. Her final chorus on A Train a timely reminder of what we're losing.
The additional voice that Weisser's cornet brought filled out the front line giving Boplicity an ensemble sound that rivalled the original Miles Davis' Birth of the Cool recording.
The opening number, Hank Mobley's This I Dig of You had set the stall out with solos all round - a pattern that followed for all the instrumental numbers. Initially, the balance wasn't perfect - the sound engineer had phoned in sick - but it smoothed out as the evening progressed and my ears adjusted to the room's acoustics.Weisser sang On Green Dolphin St, complete with unaccompanied verse. This was Dave in Mark Murphy mode. Later, he took on the role of Eddie Jefferson for Annie Ross' famous vocalese version of Wardell Gray's Twisted - unravel that one if you can.
Groovin' High was pure bebop with everyone diggin' deep. Fi Finden sang Quiet Nights. It was ok given that I think bossa novas are now mucho passé. More to my taste was You Go To My Head which, apart from Fi's fine vocal, had a sooper dooper solo from Lin Lee.
Dave, Jude and Fiona formed a vocal trio for Route 66 that took a few detours.
A Dave Weisser gig invariably includes a tale and tonight's story was of him driving to California (on Route 66) in a beat-up automobile that eventually burnt-out in San Bernadino. It was New Year's Eve and he ended up getting drunk in San Berdoo!
Jude went solo for Nick Drake's River Man, the band played All the Things You Are, Fiona sang Wes' Four on Six and the show drew to an emotional climax with the aforementioned A Train.
It had been an enjoyable evening all of the soloists impressing, Eric Stutt's drums as punchy as ever, Drew's bass providing the vital linchpin whilst Lin Lee's injections into his solos were both humourous and effective. Apart from her too few vocals, Jude stood out on flute and alto, Fiona wailed on soprano and Stu's tenor playing cried to be heard more often.
A joyous and yet sad night - Exeter, you owe us one. Not only do you annihilate our rugby team but you commandeer one of our best pianists!
Lance.
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