Ian Bosworth (guitar); Donna Hewitt (saxes/clarinet); Dave
Archbold (keys); Ron Smith (bass); Mark Hawkins (drums).
The popular
group, Just Friends, were this month's guest band with Donna Hewitt standing in
for Richie Emmerson on sax and clarinet.
A lively start was made with Earl(e) Hagen's Comin' Home Baby. Great solos from Donna, on tenor, guitarist Ian and Dave on keys. All backed by fine bass work from Ron whilst Mark's drumming demonstrated just how tight an ensemble they were.
Stanley Turrentine's Sugar followed, again with guitar, sax and keyboard solos including some fours traded with Mark on drums.
The mood changed with God Bless The Child, featuring Donna playing some very moving tenor sax.
Ian was featured on a well-honed version of George Benson's arrangement of Affirmation.
Oliver Nelson's Stolen Moments, based on a minor blues sequence, produced some inventive solos before the first set closed with Sonny Rollins' ever popular St Thomas,
set up by Mark and including fine clarinet work from Donna.
Dave was featured on Nat Adderley's Work Song,
giving the second set a driving start which continued with a
swinging version of Herbie Hancock's Cantaloupe Island.
By way of a complete contrast, Donna's tenor was again featured, this time on a lovely version of Georgia on my Mind before Ian played an inventive guitar solo on Bobby Hebb's Sunny.
A fine bass intro by Ron gave Jaco Pastorious' funky number The Chicken a great start.
The night was brought to a close with a jazz fusion number from the pad of
the Crusaders, Put It Where You Want It. Driven on by drums and bass
with excellent solos all round, it showed the band at its very best.
Another successful guest band night and nice to see Frank after his 93rd
birthday and pleasing to see jazz musicians in the audience including Neil
Brodie and Dave Fisher.
Thanks as usual go to the staff of Dorman's Club for their help and support with
the jazz night. Ron Hampton.
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