Rico Tomasso (trumpet, vocals); Keith Nichols (piano)
Minutes before going online, Rico Tomasso received a delivery from the Sussex Downs...a few bottles of beer from Harvey's Brewery. So, in addition to the tip jar, there are some perks associated with these live streams! Joining our host this week...Mr Keith Nichols! Rico's Popup Louis took its usual form - three numbers interspersed with convivial, and invariably, informative chat.
First, Rico got the technical stuff out of the way - pianist Keith recorded his contribution at the keyboard and processed the sound through a PC midi set-up to enable Rico at the other end to utilise Keith's backing to best effect. Rico likened this digital gadgetry to the early twentieth century mechanical player piano.
King Oliver's Weather Bird as recorded by Louis Armstrong and Earl Hines provided Rico and Keith with a first opportunity to have a blast. It has been a feature of Rico's live streams that he prefers to hear his accompanist through speakers rather than headphones. It appears to work for him so, why not?
Rico spoke about his great grandfather who, as a teenage boy, walked from Cassino, Italy all the way to Britain and, long story short, landed a job as an apprentice barrel organ (a type of player piano) maker. Generations later, Rico is a star on the European jazz scene! And, what's more, the history of the instrument and others is on Rico's doorstep in the History of Music Reproduction in Brentford, London (www.musicalmuseum.co.uk).
I Cover the Waterfront with Rico's amazingly accurate take on the Armstrong vocal and the Hot Seven's Willie the Weeper rounded off another whirlwind visit to the world of Louis Armstrong and the world of Enrico Tomasso. More tomorrow (Saturday) at seven o'clock.
Russell
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