Jeremy McMurray (piano); Richie Emmerson (tenor sax); Kevin
Eland (trumpet/flugel); Ron Smith (bass); Mark Hawkins (drums).
Due to holiday arrangements this was the second guest band of the month. However, this led to the formation of some of the best jazz musicians who have regularly played here.
An
excellent choice of materiel played with great enthusiasm and skill to an
appreciative audience with an age range from 16 (James) to 92 (Frank) made for
a first class night of jazz.
Starting the night with an impressive version of the Nat Adderley
classic Work Song with full band intro before a fine trumpet solo from Kevin, sax from Richie and piano from Jeremy
backed by driving drums and bass from Mark and Ron set the style and the standard
for the night.
A nice interpretation of On Green Dolphin St with both the tune's Latin and swing rhythms providing backing for great solo work.
A tribute to Miles Davis then followed with Kevin using muted trumpet on both All Blues and Freddie Freeloader to great effect.
The mood changed with a swinging Fly Me To The Moon before bringing the tempo down a little to finish the first set off with Milt Jackson's Bags Groove.
Monk's Straight, No Chaser made for an exciting start to the second set with terrific solos from trumpet, piano and sax before a round of fours finished it off.
A relaxed Sonny Rollins' Doxy was followed by Luiz Bonfá's beautiful Latin number Manhã de Carnival which featured Linda singing and Kevin on flugel.
Oliver Nelson's Stolen Moments again had Kevin on flugel before reverting back to trumpet for Clifford Brown's Sandu - a blues played with great feeling by the whole band.
The penultimate number was the fast swinging John Coltrane composition Mr
P.C. with blistering trumpet, piano, tenor and Mark with a fine
drum solo.
A more relaxed John Coltrane number Blue Train had solos all round including a bass chorus from Ron bringing this excellent night of
jazz to a close.
(Quoting words from Richie) "It was a cracker! Great to play stuff by
Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane and Miles Davis again. Thoroughly absorbing on
stage with Kev, Jeremy, Ron and Mark. Well played lads! As usual to a very
appreciative audience".
Thanks go to the staff of Dormans Club for their help and support. Ron Hampton
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