Michael Lamb (trumpet/flugelhorn); Keith Robinson (alto/soprano sax); Steve Summers (tenor/soprano sax); Paul Donnelly (guitar).
A second opportunity to see another four ace players from the Strictly Smokin' Big Band's stable of stars strutting their stuff, with varied degrees of success, at great length - some might say at very great length.
As the band's number one fan, I can be forgiven for describing this as the proverbial curate's egg.
Good in parts? - I hear you say - well let's have the good parts...
There were many of them: Keith Robinson's alto, and later soprano, blew effortlessly over his pre-recorded backing trio on: Up Jumped Spring; The Shadow of Your Smile; I'm Old Fashioned; Recorda Me & Bob Marley's Redemption Song with Paul Donnelly providing the recorded backing behind Keith's soprano sax on the latter number.
Michael Lamb, the Great Day in Harlem poster prominently displayed behind him (no social distancing back then), switched 'twixt flugel and trumpet on Days of Wine & Roses (fl); Bernie's Tune (tp); Nature Boy (fl) & Secret Love (tp). This latter tune, played tightly muted and fast was Michael's Mona Lisa and much more worthy of being hung in The Louvre than his multi-tracked Nature Boy, cleverly done as it was. The theme tonight seemed to be that you gotta have a gimmick!
Steve Summers wasn't gimmick free either. He played Dindi (appropriately pronounced dingy) with some backing from Mick Wright on guitar as well as some crows from Chopwell Woods. An original by the good doctor saw him blowing tenor over a pre-recorded sax quartet. He also managed to merge himself playing Laura with himself playing A Night in Tunisia. His final number was The Theme From Doctor Who - as a blues.
I watched one episode of Doctor Who back when the title character was played by Tom somebody or other and I decided Coronation Street was more to my taste so I can't really comment apart from saying that Steve blew the bluesiest version of the theme that I've ever heard.
Which brings in Paul Donnelly. Paul isn't a regular SSBB man but he helps them out from time to time and he is one very fine guitar player. Tonight however, he appeared to have pre-recorded his contribution and, at times, fingers and frets didn't always seem to be in cordination with what was going on!
Paul played: Jumping (Jumpin'?); A Fly; 'Round Midnight & Single Handed.
It was a good set that would have been better compressed into an hour max and, even better still, without the jiggery-pokery - just good honest blowing. It worked last time round!
Lance.
PS: Just my views, I know other members of the BSH team were impressed by the multi-tracking as indeed were the many who commentated.
I watched one episode of Doctor Who back when the title character was played by Tom somebody or other and I decided Coronation Street was more to my taste so I can't really comment apart from saying that Steve blew the bluesiest version of the theme that I've ever heard.
Which brings in Paul Donnelly. Paul isn't a regular SSBB man but he helps them out from time to time and he is one very fine guitar player. Tonight however, he appeared to have pre-recorded his contribution and, at times, fingers and frets didn't always seem to be in cordination with what was going on!
Paul played: Jumping (Jumpin'?); A Fly; 'Round Midnight & Single Handed.
It was a good set that would have been better compressed into an hour max and, even better still, without the jiggery-pokery - just good honest blowing. It worked last time round!
Lance.
PS: Just my views, I know other members of the BSH team were impressed by the multi-tracking as indeed were the many who commentated.
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