James Pearson (piano); Alex Garnett (alto sax); Sam Burgess (bass); Chris Higginbottom (drums).
Another gem from Ronnie's this time it's the house band paying tribute to Dave Brubeck's iconic 1959 album - Time Out.
Of course everyone knows Take Five, most people know Blue Rondo à la Turk and It's a Raggy Waltz whilst perhaps slightly fewer are familiar with Strange Meadowlark; Three to Get Ready; Kathy's Waltz and Everybody's Jumpin'. However, I guarantee no one had heard Gotham City Lockdown. Why? Because James Pearson had only composed the piece that very afternoon! If he hadn't confessed then I'm sure he could have fooled everyone into thinking it was a recently discovered manuscript by the master himself.
The All-Stars did Brubeck proud. Garnett gave a reasonable facsimile of Paul Desmond without losing his own identity. Pearson Brubecked without going into some of Dave's more excessive moments - the showboating that delighted the fans and upset the critics (Steve Race was a notable exception championing Brubeck from the off, possibly because, unlike most of his fellow critics, he was a pianist himself) - whilst Burgess and "Higgy" turned themselves into Gene Wright and Joe Morello respectively for the session.
Finally, for the obligatory "encore" they strayed away from the Time Out album for In Your Own Sweet Way played, needless to say in their own sweet way. A fitting finale.
There was an in-house audience of 115 which, added to the streamers, hopefully made it all worthwhile.
Lance
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