(Review by Lance).
Despite the absence of Jonokuchi and the Damoclesian sword of Covid-19 hovering above us, in true show business tradition it was decided the show must go on and it did although there were a few empty seats at this "sold out" gig.
The band were at the top of their game driven relentlessly along by super sub McKeague behind the kit on Big Swing Face. This is one of those numbers where you hit the ground running with no room for error. PJ, SS, DK and ML all socked it to us the sound reaching every corner of the small room.
Leader Lamb had promised surprises and the first one came in the form of a video link with NYC where Jonokuchi himself introduced the next number, his own arrangement of Red Top. Pete Tanton and Graham Don did the honours.
Next up was Alice looking super chic in a black and white ensemble. Four songs: I'm Gonna Lock my Heart; All of Me; Mean to Me and Oh What a Beautiful Morning. Oh what a beautiful evening this was turning out to be!
The set finished with Strasbourg St. Denis. At a SSBB gig if one is presumptuous enough to pick out a "solo of the night" it invariably goes to one of the horns - not so tonight. Tonight, Graham Don's piano solo on the aforementioned piece undoubtedly earned him the "Man of the Match" award. Tremendous!
Time for a beer. Years ago there was a little pub, The Duke of Wellington, opposite tonight's venue. It's long gone but last night it would have been welcome. Instead, we had to make do with a 330ml can of a Beaver Brook brew that cost £4.40 which by my reckoning makes it over six quid a pint. Still, as Swedish beers go, it went.
Back to the music and Alice - It's Almost Like Being in Love. It sure is. An instrumental - Catch as Catch Can - with more Graham Don and a sizzler from Jamie Toms on tenor. One of my all time faves is the Jon Hendricks number, Social Call and Alice did it justice. Likewise, You Turned the Tables on me despite the band being a tad overpowering behind the vocal.
McCoy Tyner was remembered with Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit followed by another surprise - a feature for Gordon Marshall. Gordon stepped into the shoes of SSBB's recent guest Mike Lovatt to blow an impressive The Nearness of You. First on flugel then on trumpet with an occasional glance at the stratosphere.
Time for another song but wait, I didn't know Alice played trumpet, hang on, this isn't Alice, it's Pete Tanton - on a high after a successful Riviera Quartet gig at the Lit & Phil earlier in the day - he brought Chet Baker to life with a dash of Tormé and Sinatra thrown in for good measure on I Get a Kick out of You.
To finish, Alice sang The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else - don't they always?!
A splendid evening that allowed me just enough time to pop into a Wetherspoons' pub for a pint of Doom Bar (£1.99).
Lance
McCoy Tyner was remembered with Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit followed by another surprise - a feature for Gordon Marshall. Gordon stepped into the shoes of SSBB's recent guest Mike Lovatt to blow an impressive The Nearness of You. First on flugel then on trumpet with an occasional glance at the stratosphere.
Time for another song but wait, I didn't know Alice played trumpet, hang on, this isn't Alice, it's Pete Tanton - on a high after a successful Riviera Quartet gig at the Lit & Phil earlier in the day - he brought Chet Baker to life with a dash of Tormé and Sinatra thrown in for good measure on I Get a Kick out of You.
To finish, Alice sang The One I Love Belongs to Somebody Else - don't they always?!
A splendid evening that allowed me just enough time to pop into a Wetherspoons' pub for a pint of Doom Bar (£1.99).
Lance
Michael Lamb MD, Pete Tanton, Gordon Marshall, Dick Stacey (trumpets);
Mark Ferris, Kieran Parnaby, Chris Kurgi-Smith, John Flood (trombones), Jamie
Toms, Dave Kerridge, Keith Robinson, Steve Summers, Laurie Rangecroft (reeds);
Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Graham Don (piano); Michael Whent (bass guitar);
Dave McKeague (drums); Alice Grace/Pete Tanton (vocals).
1 comment :
Many Thanks for the glowing review Lance. It’s a great piece to play.and I thought I would put my own spin on it this time. Very much appreciate your comments. Graham Don
Post a Comment