(Review by Lance).
It was the second set before the jam really came alight although the first set had begun explosively - how could it not with 'Jack-in-the-box' James Harrison at the keyboard? 200% and counting!
Charlie Gordon was tasteful, Kate O'Neill put her heart and her soul into Solitude and I Only Have Eyes For You and Martin Waugh, himself no mean pianist, had the unenviable task of following James - the last time he was here he had to follow Paul Edis! However, whilst he might bemoan that Everything Happens to Me he had an ace up his sleeve, of which more later. After a somewhat lifeless bossa nova, Andy Lawrence joined in and fiddled his way through Someday my Prince Will Come.*
So far so good although the earth had yet to move.
A short break to allow Paul Grainger's fingers to recuperate - no bass-players in the house tonight - glasses, bottles recharged, then we were back on our heads and off to the races.
This second set was a whole different ballgame. Ian White, a new name to me, gave a blast on Tenor Madness which saw Harrison, Grainger and Morgan digging deep and playing out of their skulls. Booting tenor, pulsating piano, a walking (well more running) bass and driving drums. Alone Together was more subdued but only just.
Tonight was a night when the Scots invaded and, all the way frae Aberdeen, came Elaine Crighton. Anthropology - wow! Bebop Sung Here! If Elaine doesn't return then I'm on the next train to Aberdeen! Black Coffee - no milk, no sugar, straight no chaser, scalding.
Niffi gave out an all-action rendition of Don't Get Around Much Anymore and Sunny with Paul Gowland added.
On tenor this week and, no doubt up for the challenge set by the previous tenor player, it was all systems go for Paul as he hit the Coltrane button for Speak Low - still The King.
Martin was back at the keyboard and Poppy played flute in English and sang Ochichanya in Russian.
Time for a male vocal - this time it's Martin who vacates the keyboard to croon that fantastic Matt Dennis ballad Everything Happens to Me.
I make a date for golf and you can bet your life it rains,
I try to throw a party and the guy upstairs complains,
I guess I'll go through life just
catching colds and missing trains,
Everything happens to me.
Great tune and great lyric but not great enough for Martin who adds his own verse to the song that, sadly, I didn't take note of but it was a hoot.
It brought the house down and I silently sang it all the way home!
Lance.
James Harrison (keys); Paul Grainger (bass); Russ Morgan (drums) + Charlie Gordon (guitar); Kate O'Neill, Elaine Crighton, Niffi Osiyemi (vocals); Andy Lawrenson (violin); Ian White, Paul Gowland (tenors); Martin Waugh (keys/vocal); Matthew Fairhurst, Hazem Mohammed (drums); Poppy (vocal/flute).
*Poppy who sat next to me (it was the only empty seat in the house!) asked me who wrote Someday my Prince Will Come and I was stumped and I bet you don't know either! Googling revealed that it was the team of Larry Morey and Frank Churchill who seemingly wrote the music for several Disney films receiving two Oscar nominations along the way, talking of which...
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