A concert long in the planning, the pandemic put paid to the original date in September last year. In the intervening period, the show's MD, Keith Nichols, sadly died. This evening's Cadogan Hall concert would take the form of a tribute to Mr Nichols.
The concert hall in London's Sloane Square is a regular host to Richard Pite's Jazz Repertory Company presentations and this event attracted a near capacity audience. One notable absentee from the line-up was cornetist Andy Schumm, thanks to ever-changing regulations concerning international travel, our American guest stayed home in Chicago.
The Roaring Twenties adopted a simple formula: a selection of numbers grouped together would spotlight legendary composers and/or performers with each section introduced by Kerry Shale. Members of the all-star ensemble would, in turn, step up as featured soloists. From time to time the ten-strong ensemble would be joined by several special guests. Rico Tomasso and Peter Rudeforth wowed the classic jazz aficionados, Tomasso full value with his uncanny Louis Armstrong vocals.
Elegant pianist Martin Litton, charged with doing justice to the late Keith Nichols, did a fine job, flanked on one side by the woodwinds (Michael McQuaid, David Horniblow and Mark Crooks) and on the other by the brass (Rico Tomasso, Peter Rudeforth and Alistair Allan). As Vimala Rowe took to the stage, it appeared few in the audience had heard of, let alone heard Vimala Rowe sing. They were about to be amazed! Singing Bessie Smith numbers, Ms Rowe could justifiably lay claim to the title Empress of the Blues.
Janice Day, a frequent participant at the Classic Jazz Party up on Tyneside, offered a cameo with a period-style rendition of Mildred Bailey singing I Like to Do Things for You. And an unexpected, but absolutely brilliant, contribution came from none other than Guy Barker playing Bixian cornet (see photo, Barker flanked by Michael McQuaid and Alistair Allan). Barker's illustrious career - from NYJO to the Guy Barker Jazz Orchestra - includes a musical association with Keith Nichols. Barker addressed the Cadogan Hall audience, recalling a first meeting with Nichols during which he asked the early jazz authority why he wanted him to play the roll of Bix Beiderbecke. Nichols replied he didn't want to engage an established specialist, he wanted someone - Barker, a dirty bopper - who would do as he was told!
The evening had been a great success. An unexpected finale saw the ensemble joined by a young dance troupe to send us on our way with a spirited take on The Charleston. One imagines Keith Nichols would have loved it.
Kerry Shale (presenter); Vimala Rowe (vocals); Thomas 'Spats' Langham (banjo, guitar, vocals); Rico Tomasso (trumpet); Peter Rudeforth (trumpet); Alistair Allan (trombone); Michael McQuaid (saxophones, clarinet); Mark Crooks (saxophones, clarinet); David Horniblow (saxophones, clarinet); Martin Litton (piano); Nick Ball (drums); Richard Pite (drums, sousaphone, double bass) & special guests Guy Barker (cornet); Janice Day (vocals)
Set list: Struttin' with Some Barbecue; Willie the Weeper; Sugar Foot Stomp (Louis Armstrong); I'm Coming Virginia; Goose Pimples; Clarinet Marmalade (Bix Beiderbecke); Black Bottom Stomp; Smokehouse Blues; Dr Jazz (Jelly Roll Morton); Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out; St Louis Blues; Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight (Bessie Smith); Cotton Club Stomp; Black Beauty; Old Man Blues (Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club); The Charleston.
INTERVAL
Singin' the Blues; Jazz Me Blues (Bix Beiderbecke); I Like to Do Things for You (Mildred Bailey); In a Mist (Bix Beiderbecke); Sidewalk Blues; Georgia Swing; Burnin' the Iceberg (Jelly Roll Morton); Careless Love Blues; Give Me a Pigfoot; Cakewalkin' Babies Back Home (Bessie Smith); After You've Gone; Mahogany Hall Stomp (Louis Armstrong); East St Louis Toodle-Oo; Creole Love Call; Diga Diga Do (Duke Ellington at the Cotton Club).
The Roaring Twenties was a Jazz Repertory Company presentation.
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