(Review by Sheila Herrick/photos to follow)
Saturday brought The Mark Williams Trio to the stage at 12.30pm a lovely start to the day and the audience appreciated the fine playing and skilled musicianship of Mark on guitar, Andy Champion on bass guitar and Russ Morgan on drums. (Paul Susans unable to make this gig). The set had a well-balanced range from the clear and bell-like, Weird Waltz, to the meditative Good Answer and on to Near Enough, revved up by Russ and taken on by the flying fingers of Mark and the power of Andy's bass. "The set went well, Andy played a blinder and there was something for everyone", said Mark.
Sadly the next, Berlin-based, act was rather less enjoyable. Alex Spencer, singer-songwriter, on guitar and vocals, Paul Engelmann, alto sax, Ben Lehmann double bass. The billed drummer was absent and maybe this affected the cohesion of the group. Alex has a clear and delicate voice delivering a series of self-penned songs of her concerns regarding the current state of the world.
The mood was considerably improved with Ben Beattie's After Midnight Band;
Ben on saxes, keyboard and a vocal, Mafro Archer, guitar, Chris Lea, bass, George Magrath, drums and the vocalist Lisane Chingwe.
The good times rolled with energetic jazz, funk, soul and gospel, including Stevie Wonder, Louis Jordan and African township. The band and singer were all enjoying themselves and so were the audience. Great fun, people up dancing on the lawn and a real party atmosphere.
Sheila H.
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