Graham Don (keyboards); Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Michael Whent (bass guitar); Guy Swinton (drums).
(Photo courtesy of Michael Lamb)
The fourth and supposedly final Strictly Smokin' live stream in this short lockdown series from Mitch's gaff on Pink Line gave the boys in the engine room an opportunity to show what they could do away from the band's all-star horns.* Graham, Pav, Michael and Guy, observing social distancing guidelines, scribbled out a set list of some of their favourite tunes and played them. A simple format and it worked.
Billy Cobham's Red Baron for openers, cruisin' and a-groovin'. Bernie Miller's Bernie's Tune, a jam session staple, similarly Benny Golson's Killer Joe (Graham Don's 'killer' solo), kept things in a mid-to-uptempo groove. Bobby Womack's Breezin', famously recorded by George Benson, featured Pav on guitar (Michael Whent supplying the bottom end bass line). Herbie Hancock's lyrical Dolphin Dance featured Mr D on keys, Freddie Hubbard's waltz Up Jumped Spring kept things moving along, Pav stating the melody, Graham once again in the soloist's spotlight.
Eddie Harris' Cold Duck Time with Pav in Larry Carlton-John Scofield mode turned it up a notch, Michael grabbing a rare solo a la Jaco, Guy taking it out. Time for one more - Sco's Hottentot from A Go Go (check out the album - Sco with Medeski, Martin and Wood), Pav killing! And, as Guy said 'good night' at a couple of minutes to three in the afternoon, we chuckled! Why not gan back to bed, Guy?! See you at GCT on December 19!
* As tier 3 kicks in, the anticipated return to live gigs, albeit with much-reduced audience numbers, has been put on hold. Lockdown #5 will happen - watch this space!
Russell
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