The Blue Jazz Quartet don't go for the soft option - their set included pieces by Coltrane, Mingus, Jarrett, Shorter and Ellington as well as a few more familiar numbers that the casual listener could latch on to.
As fate decreed, the last three bands at the Jazz Co-op's Sunday night sessions all had soprano saxophonists in the line up and, by coincidence (and I'm not being intentionally sexist), all were women. More importantly, all had their uniquely individual sound and approach. Not least Karen Rann who, like vocalist Debra Milne and Dave Parker, when not performing, doubles on bar duties. That's what cooperatives are all about.
On piano, Mark Squires - a new name to me - played some choice chords whilst Parker and Howard provided sound backing. Parker's extended bass intro to Goodbye Pork Pie Hat was quite memorable whilst Howard's hand-drumming on the rarely performed rhumba La Rosita was very effective.
It had been a long time since I'd heard Miriam McCormick and she sounded good although I thought I detected a suggestion of nerves on the opening Easy to Love. However, her confidence grew with No Moon at All and by God Bless the Child she was firing on all cylinders. The intonation was good and the interpretation imaginative.
Miriam returned in the second set for There Will Never be Another You and a great Billie Holiday number - Baby I Don't Cry Over You. Welcome back on the scene Miriam.
Given that this was a last minute replacement gig it drew a decent crowd with all tables occupied - Lance
This I Dig of You; La Rosita; Someday My Prince Will Come; Memories of Tomorrow; Goodbye Pork Pie Hat; Easy to Love; No Moon at All; God Bless the Child; Softly as in a Morning Sunrise; Blue Train; Wave; In a Sentimental Mood; Footprints; There Will Never be Another You; Baby I Don't Cry Over You; Smile; Bernie's Tune + vocal encore I missed.
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