Enrico Tomasso (trumpet/flugel/vocal); Nick Dawson (piano/vocal)
I hadn't checked out Rico for awhile leaving it up to Russell to do the honours. However, Russell was doing the honours elsewhere tonight so the ball was in my court and, to tell you the truth - I had a ball!
When he announced the first number as Moon Song my heart leapt. I've loved that song ever since I heard Sinatra sing it on the wonderfully titled Moonlight Sinatra. Sinatra may be the better singer but Rico blows better trumpet.
Moon River didn't do much for me although the arrangement was clever mixing 3/4 6/8 & 4/4.
I Get Ideas has a lyric that leaves little to the imagination as to what those ideas are and, by the end of the song, I think those ideas were mutually agreed upon! Apart from that it's a nice tune and Rico gave it the Armstrong treatment.
Tonight's guest accompanist was pianist Nick Dawson who almost stole the show with his pianistic dexterity. Imagine if Teddy Wilson had had a couple of extra fingers on each hand! Nick has another secret weapon - his voice!
He did okay singing April Showers but his masterpiece was Polka Dots and Moonbeams. They don't come much better than this.
We also heard Fools Rush In, Avalon and Limehouse Blues and looked on enviously as Rico downed a pint of Old Speckled Hen.
Tonight's episode lasted an hour and it wasn't 60 minutes too long!
Next week, Rico is mooting the idea of a live one in the kitchen with Simon Picton on guitar, banjo and whatever comes to hand.
Lance
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