Adrian Cox Quartet Live - August 9

Adrian Cox (clarinet/vocal); Denny Ilett (guitar/vocal); Dave Newton (piano); Ferg Ireland (bass).

As Groucho Marx famously said, “Either this woman is dead or my watch has stopped!”

When it got to ten past three it occurred to me that maybe Adrian or I needed a new watch or one of us was dead!

By the time they eventually turned up I was elsewhere listening to Mainly Two who did get there at the time announced. But, as they are predominately a classical duo, it would seem, I guess, that jazz time is somewhat more flexible than classical time. Three o’clock? Nah the punters will still be in the bar…

About 3:18 the word was out that they were on air – BT the ones accused for the delay.

When I arrived, Cox was working out on Oh Lady be Good! and, I must admit he did the lady proud. Sugar Blues was a hit way back for Clyde McCoy who gave what was probably the most tasteless use of a trumpet mute ever. Cox didn’t need any gimmicks, instead, he chose to sing. I can almost certainly say that Adrian is probably the best clarinet playing singer I’ve heard. This puts him ahead of Benny Goodman in that classification. Wisely, to the best of my knowledge, Artie Shaw never chose to go down that road.

Lull at Dawn brought to mind, as intended, Barney Bigard.  You’re Nobody 'til Somebody Loves You had Denny Ilett deciding that he too wanted to sing before making way for Adrian and Dave Newton to come up with as a good a version of Stardust as I’ve heard since maybe now and possibly for many years to come.

China Boy and Poor Butterfly showed the gamut of Cox’ emotions. China Boy, which was close to breaking the sound barrier and Butterfly which broke through the tear barrier.

To finish, Jump For Joy, had me too jumping for joy – despite the delayed start. Still that’s jazz and the crazy world we’re living in.

Lance

PS: Some great (though not enough) piano from Newton and solid support from Ireland.