Rico began this week's Popup Louis with a few words about the death earlier this week of Chris Barber. Time to introduce this evening's guest, pianist Joe Webb. And it was down to Joe to count off the opening number. At its conclusion Rico conceded it had been taken at quite a tempo! Slowing things down a touch, Joe swung Just Squeeze Me as Rico deployed what he described as his Louis-style plunger 'assemblage', taking a vocal chorus for good measure.
One from Armstrong's Oscar Peterson session, Let's Fall in Love, with, as Rico flagged, a nice intro from Joe. And so it was, Oscar P with a little bit of Erroll Garner's instantly recognisable style. A great player is Joe. Rico spoke once again, this time at length, about Chris Barber, recalling a few deps he did when Pat Halcox wasn't available, and of his days on the road as part of Acker Bilk's band in the hugely popular Barber, Bilk and Ball touring show. To remember Barber, indeed all three bandleaders, Rico (and Joe) dedicated When I Grow to Old to Dream to the Three Bs.
Time for Rico to pick up his flugelhorn to play Let's Fall in Love, sticking with the more mellow horn for Benny Carter's When Lights Are Low (composed with Spencer Williams way back in 1936). Louis and Ella, Stars Fall on Alabama, Rico on flugelhorn and vocals.
Turning to Benny G, Rico thought it an idea to play something from the King of Swing's big band days, Don't Be That Way, Joe taking an old school saloon bar 'you hum it son' solo, Rico digging it, in return replying with a tremendous solo of his own. Louis and Ella, Stars Fell on Alabama, Rico again on flugelhorn, taking a vocal with perhaps a hint of Teagarden in there with the Louis vocal. Time to go with I Know That You Know.
Next week Rico has a gig! Up in Scotland, no less. So, our man is giving himself the week off from the world of the live stream. The following week (March 12) Rico returns, working in the company of guitarist Simon Picton.
Russell
Set list: Just You, Just Me; Just
Squeeze Me; Let's Fall in Love; When I Grow to Old to
Dream; Don't Be That Way; When Lights Are Low; Stars
Fell on Alabama; I Know That You Know
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