A rare appearance by Lewis Watson (duplicated tonight at Opus 4) saw the fans queuing outside in eager anticipation of what promised to be a great gig. The room soon filled to capacity and the potential was looking good.
However, it had been a long time since I'd heard Lewis in a jazz capacity - his Rat Pack jaunts with Jason don't count - and I wondered: Would he be ring rusty? Would he be living on past glories like his favourite football team?
The answer to both questions was an emphatic no! He came out, not like a greyhound in the slips but more like Liston when he took Patterson out in the first round.
From the opening Liberia (Trane) it was as if Ronaldo had scored a hat trick in the first 5 minutes. We sat back and relaxed, the king hadn't lost his crown.
A couple of Wayne Shorter's, a Jerry Bergonzi, Sam Rivers' Beatrice and a late addition to the programme - Everything Happens to me. This latter tune took a few, unaccompanied, twists and turns before getting, beautifully to the point. If you've made a date for golf this afternoon you can bet your life it ain't gonna rain and you can even throw a party without the guy upstairs banging on the ceiling - magic!
My apologies to Mark, Mick and John for concentrating on Lewis but with Lewis being a rarely spotted bird (Bird?) who knows when, after tonight in Darlo, he will be spotted again whereas, you guys are on the scoresheet (jazzwise) with great regularity and, of course, at the end of the day where would Lewis be without you?
As he introduced the band, he suggested that there may be more in the offing... Watch this space - Lance
Liberia; Optimum Propensity; El Gaucho; Beatrice; Everything Happens to me; Yes or No.
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