Jim McBriarty
(tenor sax, soprano sax, vocals); Don Armstrong (clarinet, alto sax, sopranino
sax, tin whistle); Brian Chester (keyboards); Bill Colledge (bass); Fred
Thompson (drums, vocals) + Alan Armstrong (harmonica)
(Review by Russell)
Wot? No Vieux
Carre? As the Big Cheese (Mr B Bennett) was away the Fred Thompson All Stars
came out to play. Jim McBriarty as acting MC, Don Armstrong in from Oz, J
McB said today's gig would take the form of a saxophone quartet. This was lost
on one or two of the Crescent Club's Wednesday crowd until J McB pointed out
the obvious - on the stand were four reeds...tenor, soprano, clarinet and the
little heard sopranino. Wot? Nee banjo? I'm gannin' yem!*
From here on in the
reeds switched from alto to tenor, tenor to clarinet, alto to sopranino,
to...you get the idea. Our man from Oz, Don Armstrong, had another trick up his
sleeve or rather in his pocket, but more of that anon. Beale Street
Blues with DA wailing on sopranino, then, that trick up his
sleeve...from his trouser pocket Armstrong produced - Can you guess
what it was? (Aussie accent for full effect)...no, not a didgeridoo, a
tin whistle, on Rosetta!
Fred 'All Stars'
Thompson chipped in with a vocal on You Can Depend on Me, more tin
whistle on Avalon and measured tenor from McB and woody
clarinet from DA on a respectful Just a Closer Walk, yes, the VCJ's
loyal followers were liking what they were hearing.
The interval;
another pint (from 'the wood'!) of Grainger Ale, a raffle ticket (nee luck, why
bother?!), and we were soon underway again. Washington and Lee Swing (FT
voc), Creole Love Call (DA soprano, then clarinet, was this
Edgar Sampson or Otto Hardwicke?), a J McB vocal on You're Nobody's
Sweetheart Now, things were going well. Look at the time...it was a quarter
to three (pm not Sinatra wee small hours am), almost time to go. FT sang about
that old Rockin' Chair before the All Stars signed-off with a
rousing Ice Cream featuring FT and J McB's shared
vocals.
It had been a
banjo-free afternoon. Fear not (in)sanity will be restored next week with the
return of the Vieux Carre Jazzmen.
* Translation
available upon request.
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