(Review by Lance).
This was one of those fun nights - how could it not be with the irrepressible James Harrison at the keyboard? A musical joke never far from his fingertips, an appropriate quote an integral part of every number, and even if he does go over the top at times, so what? It's a jam session not Evensong at Westminster Abbey.
Stomping at the Savoy saw the Dun Cow metaphorically doing just that. A Latin number had some hand-drumming from Tom Chapman before Kay Usher fiddled while Harrison burned. Take the A Train and Softly as in a Morning Sunrise with banjo accompaniment from Ben Helm were the test pieces and all passed with honours.
Helm moved on to guitar and Jan Spencelayh sang. The lady from Hartlepool is fast becoming noticed not least after her version of You Turned the Tables on Me - a request - and I Put a Spell on You.
Matt came off the bench and settled in behind the kit, Ben reverted to banjo, Jennifer Davies sat next to a sign advertising a Pool Competition and kept Nina Simone in the frame with My Baby Just Cares For me. One of these days, someone will update the lyrics to this great song - suggestions for alternatives to Lana Turner, Liz Taylor and Liberace please. A rousing Route 66 had solos from Matt and Ben, this time on guitar, and Jennifer got all the place names in the right order.
It was certainly a singers night, next up was Mel Grundy with You'd be so Nice to Come Home to and Beautiful Love. Nice chord solo from Ben on the former.
Kay Usher returned for Exactly Like You and, with Marcus Tham on piano, All of Me.
Jan sang This Can't Be Love, and What a Difference a Day Made. Archie was now on drums,
Another star was born when Eleni Georgiou sang Ain't Misbehavin', One Note Samba and How High the Moon? John Rowland joined the party and Eleni reprised Ella's take on 'Moon'.
Jennifer bounced back for a fast I'm Beginning to See the Light and the show closed with In a Mellow Tone.
Audience wise, this was possibly the best Dun Cow jam yet. Well done to Paul Grainger for putting it all together.
Lance.
James Harrison (keys); Paul Grainger (bass); Tom Chapman (drums) + Kay Usher (violin); John Rowland (tenor sax); Marcus Tham (piano); Matt MacKellar, Archie Williamson (drums); Ben Helm (guitar/banjo); Jan Spencelayh, Jennifer Davies, Mel Grundy, Eleni Georgiou (vocals).
1 comment :
It was a great night! Really fun and buzzing! Many thanks to the incredibly talented core team of musicians and great to see some terrific young musicians and singers coming along and contributing!
It's funny you should mention updating the lyrics to My Baby Just Cares, Lance ... for a while now - second time round I've been singing 'Johansson is not his style and even Julia Roberts' smile ...' Both scan nicely although I've been racking my brain to come up with a better one than using only a surname (as in Scarlet's). Anyone got any better suggestions?
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