KSTV: Kansas Smitty's Big Four - May 1

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)

Giacomo Smith (clarinet); Pete Horsfall (trumpet); Dave Archer (guitar); Ferg Ireland (double bass) + Julian Bliss (clarinet)

Smitty's Big Four, this is where it all began. Kansas Smitty's the band, the venue, the brand emerged from a gigging quartet. Tonight's session would be augmented by a clarinetist, a man at the top of his profession performing the classical repertoire, Mr Julian Bliss.

A hot start, three in a row...Maple Leaf Rag, Dardanella and Muskrat Ramble! Tremendous solos - shouts of Go on! Go on! - and immaculate ensemble work. Taking it down a touch with Sweet Lorraine did nothing to lessen the brilliance of the musicianship. In fact, such was the brilliance of Giacomo Smith the thought occurred: Was Mr Bliss standing in the wings? No pressure, eh?! 

(Screenshot by Ken Drew)

Paquito de Rivera brought Um a Zero to Giacomo's attention, the quartet played it, then, in the company of this evening's guest, Julian Bliss, Poor Butterfly. Relaxed, wholly uncompetitive, for now...Some chat, mutual back slapping between Giacomo and Mr B. And then, as we approached the end of the set, Giacomo called a blazing After You've Gone. As you'd expect, the jazz guys kept up - Messrs P Horsfall (trumpet), D Archer (guitar) and F Ireland (string bass) - but what about JB? Yep, no problem! Giacomo thanked the man for his contribution and we were back to the Big Four. To end, a rip-roaring That's a Plenty. These boys really can play! Russell

Set list: Maple Leaf Rag; Dardanella; Muskrat Ramble; Sweet Lorraine; Um a Zero; Poor Butterfly; I've Never Been Blue; That's a Plenty.