Rico's Popup Louis - Jan. 15

Rico Tomasso (trumpet, flugelhorn, cornet, vocals); Martin Wheatley (guitar, banjo)

Armstrong and Beiderbecke this week, Messrs Enrico Tomasso and Martin Wheatley our duo. Dusky Stevedore (comp. JC Johnson & A. Razaf) for starters, Rico trumpet and vocals à la Armstrong, accompanied by Wheatley's banjo playing. As usual, online comments were many from Rico's loyal following. Rico offered a London weather update...snow tomorrow morning, his beer of the week...Black Sheep.   

Rico said how much he liked Bing Crosby's recording of Cabin in the Pines which Louis himself would record some years later. So, Rico sang it, Martin switching to guitar (multi-tracking rhythm and impressive solo guitar parts). Diga Diga Doo (comp. McHugh & Fields), first, as if Ellington was playing it, then into something more like Louis. Martin's unusual flamenco-style guitar intro to Just Like a Butterfly Caught in the Rain (comp. Woods & Dixon) found Rico playing flugelhorn. 

Talk of beer and more talk of more beer then Rico turned his attention to Bix: Rhythm King followed by Somebody Stole My Gal. Time for a Louis/Rico vocal - I'm Confessin' with bottle neck guitar accompaniment from Martin. To close, a number recorded by Louis and Bing - Sweet Sue.    

Russell     

Set list: Dusky Stevedore; Cabin in the Pines; Diga Diga Doo; Just Like a Butterfly Caught in the Rain; Somebody Stole My Gal; I'm Confessin'; Sweet Sue