Jazz and real ale - an unbeatable combination. I enjoyed both.
I missed the opening numbers from these cross-border raiders having been watching the second test match (send those Aussies back to Botany Bay) and the second stage of Le Tour which finished in San Sebastian (happy memories of the jazz festival of 50 years ago) but I liked what I heard.
I particularly enjoyed Fiona Kalin's vocals which brought to mind the first time I heard Carol Kidd at the Edinburgh Jazz Festival. Fiona has that same kind of jazz feel. A mix of '40s/'50s swing enhanced by some fine piano and swinging bass and drums in support.
A live performance of their recently released album On Pink Lane which was reviewed HERE by Russell just a week ago and described by him as 'most definitely a winner'. Based on this live set I couldn't agree more.
All three dug in deep with Keeble in paint-stripping mode. He's a contender and worthy of a title shot.
The two Ibanez toting guitarists gave a performance that was almost beyond perfection if such a thing was possible. It was so flawless you almost wanted something to go wrong just to prove they were human. Of course nothing did go wrong and James' announcements provided the evidence that they were indeed human.
The repertoire covered material by, among others, Jobim, Reinhardt, Metheny, Rollins and Corea. The latter's Spain had some flamenco style shredding to add a degree of authenticity to the title.
How time passes. It seems like it was only yesterday when Bradley Johnston was the new kid on the block and now he's probably as important as his mentor fellow guitarist James!
Talking of new kids on the block ... Three of the four musicians are part of Knats, the funkiest band around. Add Harrison to the mix and you've got a band that does what it says on the tin.
Woodward knows his way around the long-necked bass, soloing with the agility of a lead guitarist whilst doing some fancy footwork at the same time. His confidence in both his playing and his ability to communicate make him the ideal frontman.
Kilsby, the youngest member, is a more introvert player - until he steps up to the mic that is! Then he becomes Hubbard, Morgan, Hargrove and Kilsby blowing trumpet that just keeps getting better and better. Harrison slotted in effortlessly as we knew he would having heard him do that so many times at jam sessions. Finally King David. If he were a cricketer he'd be Ben Stokes he drives the band/team forward with the same intensity and, unlike Stokes, his team don't let him down.
This was the icing on a cordon-bleu cake. Please sir may I have some more? Lance
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