Brenda
Sokell (vocals); Alex Moon (piano); Paul Eden (guitar); Richard Bower (bass);
Geoff Smith (drums)
(Review by Ann Alex/Photo supplied by Brenda Sokell from a different gig))
The
band certainly didn't look like tramps, dressed in black, smart casual, but Ms
Sokell looked and sang like a talented lady, in a neat polka dot dress. I was
told that this band hasn't been together very long, but any lack of experience
didn't show. All the solos were from guitar and piano, so perhaps bass and drum
solos will come with more development later on, but tonight the band and singer
gave us very good music, including one or two unfamiliar songs.
Straight
in with Route 66, noticeably clear diction and a pleasant alto toned
voice. Satin Doll, and I once more
tried to figure out the actual story involved, comments please below to tell me
what this song means. Besame Mucho gave our singer a chance to be a
linguist, in Spanish (Portuguese?) and also to sing a Latin rhythm to an
appropriate tapping drum. Let's Do It and the band gave us bouncy
ensemble playing.
In
the second half, Night and Day became a Latin number, wise choice, this
tune can get a bit drawn out; then a Peggy Lee number that was new to me, I
Don't Know Enough About You. (My favourite line ' I'm a little gem in
geology' (get it?); Frim Fram Sauce (surely has a naughty double
meaning?); Embraceable You started with a slow chorus, then cleverly
became fast. Next came a surprise, two songs by Pink Martini,
which gave Ms Stokell a chance to use her upper vocal range, songs called Hang
On and Lily. The audience asked for an encore, which was September
in the Rain.
This
is a more than competent ensemble and it will be interesting to note even
further developments as they go on. Well worth seeing again.
Ann Alex
Set List, no short measures, 18 tunes: Route 66; Satin Doll; What a Difference a Day Made; Besame Mucho; Sway; Honeysuckle Rose; Easy Street; Nice Work If You Can Get It; Night and Day; I Don't Know Enough About You; Like Someone In Love; Frim Fram Sauce; Comes Love; Fly me to the Moon; Embraceable You; Hang On; Lily; September in the Rain
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