On a sweltering summer's evening the medium of Zoom (everybody's favourite/least favourite platform) presented a fine array of SSBB soloists working with backing tapes. Few would claim this to be the ideal arrangement but, hey, in these lockdown times...
First up Mr Dave Kerridge on tenor playing My One and Only Love. Mr Dependable is DK. Chris Kurgi-Smith threw his hat in the ring with Lucky Dip (comp. Mark Nightingale). A Lionel Richie number found its way into the set courtesy of pianist and vocalist Graham Don. A mean piano player is Graham and, on this evidence, no mean singer!
SSBB tenor sax man Jamie Toms offered Vincent Youmans' Without a Song, a number JT said he first encountered listening to Sonny Rollins. Good stuff. Kieran Parnaby, sporting a distinctive haircut - someone on the split screen suggested all of the SSBB should go for a similar barnet...hmmm! - chose an apposite Blue Skies. Alto man, the first of two this evening, Mr Keith Robinson confided he was looking forward to July 4. Not because he was choking for a pint, rather he was in need of a haircut! KR likes All the Things You Are and proceeded to play it. Alto man no. 2 was waiting in the wings...
Our American composer, novelist and all round good guy Pete Tanton laid down his trumpet in favour of piano as he sang Tell Me When It's Safe to Open My Eyes. Written before the current pandemic, it certainly has a resonance in these strange times. Nice one, Pete. Paul Donnelly from the Deep South (that's the southern end of BSH's homeland) joined the regular SSBB boys and girls and, as last time round, the visuals were more freeze frame stills than uninterrupted live stream. That said, PD's guitar playing was more than up to scratch on Four Brothers. From one guest to another - Sue Ferris. Whatever the instrument, tenor sax, baritone, Sue never fails to deliver a knockout performance and tonight's contribution - Summertime - on flute was no different.
And then there was Alice - wow! Someone to Watch Over Me sang AG. No word of a lie, if Gershwin was around today he'd be mightily impressed! Ms Grace would return. Steve Summers took on Bird's Scrapple from the Apple and our second alto sax ace of the evening came off relatively unscathed - that's an achievement in itself. We were nearing the end of tonight's SSBB live stream and it was time for Michael Lamb to demonstrate his mastery of Zoom and all things digital and pick up his muted horn to play a corking If I Were a Bell. Clearly band MD Lamb had been in the lockdown woodshed - tremendous! Chega de Saudeade was Pawel Jedrzejewski's acousitc guitar piece tonight. Underrated is Pav. And finally the full band appeared on screen to contribute recorded parts as Alice Grace sang Fascinating Rhythm live. It worked well. The SSBB will be back in July with more, details nearer the time.
Russell
SSBB soloists & guest soloists (In order of appearance): Dave Kerridge (tenor sax); Chris Kurgi-Smith (trombone); Graham Don (keyboards, vocals); Jamie Toms (tenor sax); Kieran Parnaby (trombone); Keith Robinson (alto sax); Pete Tanton (piano, vocals); Paul Donnelly (guitar); Sue Ferris (flute); Alice Grace (vocals); Steve Summers (alto sax); Michael Lamb (trumpet), Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); + SSBB full band video
1 comment :
Saved the best for last great session culminating in a spectacular version of Fascinating Rhythm wonderful vocals from Alice Grace her voice is so crisp and clean and the musicianship is collectively second to none , thank you so much for entertaining us through these awful times.
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