If last week's session was less than perfect then this week's was, if it were not a contradiction, more than perfect! The in house piano had been kicked into touch and Graham Don opted for his Yamaha keyboard. Motor bikes, saxophones, keyboards - Yammies are the business as Graham proved, not that I'm suggesting he arrived on a motor bike.
I don't know if Steve Summers' latest acquisition - a curved soprano sax - came from the far east but it certainly sounded good. Or it may have just been the player. As in everything, what comes out is what you put in, sometimes unfortunately, but not in Steve's case. He was on form blowing either sop or tenor.
Michael Whent, the quiet man of the SSBB, just sits back and lets the big hitters out front have their moments of glory. Glory that would be vastly diminished if he wasn't there laying down a solid foundation as a launchpad. Today, despite the reduced numbers, he continued in that role keeping it all together.
Needless to say, Alice, unencumbered by last weeks out of tune piano, was at her peak and her singing was just what we have come to expect from her - class!
Some great songs; Devil May Care; Social Call - I remember the first time I heard it. I was sitting in the Spice of Life and Paul Pace spun the Jon Hendricks' version over the PA system. I bought it the next day only to find out when I got home that I already had it on a Cannonball Adderley CD! Since then it's been one of my favourite numbers and Alice's version does it no harm at all!
'Round Midnight saw Steve bring the sop into play and he blew it again on No More Blues. Alice's final number was Cheek to Cheek which was merely superb.
As well as the vocals, there were instrumentals; Solar; The Jody Grind and another favourite - Nica's Dream.
Next week Alice, Graham and Steve step down and hand over to saxman Jamie Thoms, Michael Whent and Pav on guitar.
Lance
PS: Forgot to mention Have You Met Miss Jones? Great vocal, swinging tenor.
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