Stu Collingwood (piano, vocals); Paul Grainger (double bass); Paul Wight (drums, vocals) + Kay Usher (violin); James Metcalf (flugelhorn).
(Review by Russell).
Another quiet night. Jazz Cafe Tuesday, Dun Cow Wednesday - students cramming ahead of exams, Metro falling apart thanks to 'austerity' policies and Barca v Liverpool on the telly* possible/probable factors in the low turn-outs of both musicians and audience.
The house trio - Stu, piano, Paul G, bass and Paul W, drums - played for their own satisfaction as much as the hardy few. First Wednesday in the month appears to be convenient for Kay Usher and she duly turned up again to play a couple of numbers, never one to overstay her welcome. All of Me then Corcovado and she was done, for the time being.
James Metcalf made the effort - take note young, aspiring musos! - and, when given the nod, with flugelhorn in hand (the previous evening it was trumpet), suggested a couple of standards which our experienced trio happily obliged.
Following a short intermission, Kay Usher returned to remind us It Don't Mean a Thing if you can't play Autumn Leaves with a certain swing supported by Paul Wight's sensitive brushwork.
As the evening threatened tp peter out - Metcalf had departed - two vocalists stepped up to the mic. First, Stu Collingwood singing I Thought About You. This was good stuff, Stu's vocal style pitched somewhere between Paul Edis (!) by way of Mose Allison and Gerry Richardson. Take that as high praise! Our second singer of the evening, Paul Wight, opted for Pennies from Heaven (in G). Eyeing your correspondent, Mr Wight threatened to do damage should this BSH review of his vocal abilities be anything other than favourable. Oh, yeah! You and whose army?! As it happens our house drummer made a good fist of it, although the 'scat' section didn't come anywhere near challenging Ella's crown!
Yes, a quiet, pleasant way to spend a May Day evening, it could have been worse...Morris dancers could have turned up!
* Mr Messi put Liverpool to the sword.
Russell
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