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!
So far so good although the earth had yet to move.
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.
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.
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,
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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