(Screenshot by Ken Drew)
A relatively low-key live stream from Smitty's tonight. Will Arnold-Forster replied to presenter Osei's nightly question "What will you be playing tonight?" with the usual answer "Just a bunch of tunes that we like." This turned out to be a bunch of tunes that I too liked so the portents looked good...
I knew the opener but could I put a title to it? Could I heck as like. When W A-F announced afterwards that it was Ill Wind by Harold Arlen I said, "of course!" as we invariably do after these senior moments.
Tom Farmer arranged Star Eyes and, not surprisingly it was a bass feature - you don't burn the midnight oil for someone else to shine although, in this case, Jas also came to the fore. It was a nice arrangement although perhaps the finale was slightly over prolonged but who's complaining?
I'll Take Romance retained its original 3/4 time throughout which makes a change. Most jazz played in waltz-time tends to go into 4/4 for the solos. Tonight they stuck to 3/4 and it didn't stop them swinging.
Jim Hall's All Across the City led to a couple of choice numbers by Tadd Dameron: Our Delight and If You Could See me Now. The first a nice easy swing, the latter a beautiful ballad. One of the sidebar pundits referred to Will Arnold-Forster as one of his favourite guitarists.
Mine too!
The unannounced closer had a nice groove going and Jas took us out with an extended solo.
A session at Smitty's can vary between pleasant and fantastic. This one sat comfortably in the middle.
Lance
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