Jeff Barnhart (piano, vocals); John Hallam (tenor sax, baritone sax, clarinet); Keith Stephen (guitar, banjo); Bruce Rollo (double bass, vocals)
The Mr Men's annual visit to Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club attracted a large crowd to St Augustine's. Pianist Jeff Barnhart was just about over jetlag, this Larchfield Street engagement the first in his spring UK tour itinerary. As always, joining the man from Mystic, Connecticut, from west of the Pennines, the affable John Hallam (reeds), from Northumberland, Keith Stephen (guitar and banjo) and DNOJC favourite, string bassist Bruce Rollo.
Jeff Barnhart did the talking, the piano playing, the singing, Messrs Hallam, Stephen and Rollo taking care of business. Throughout the afternoon, Barnhart would ask Hallam: What's next? Thinking for a second, Hallam would reply along the lines of: No.47, in the red book. Turning the page, Barnhart would exclaim: Great choice! And off they would go, no rehearsal, straight in. The Mr Men are friends, this Saturday afternoon concert their annual reunion.
Highlights were many...Alex Hill's I Would Do Anything for You, Ellington's Ring Dem Bells and Doin' the Crazy Walk, a swift Fine and Dandy (Hallam, tenor), Some of These Days (a banjo feature for Keith Stephen), a Barnhart-Hallam duo feature playing Hoagy's One Morning in May, and a rarity, Bruce Rollo, centre stage, chanelling his inner Marvin Rainwater, singing So You Think You've Got Troubles (Barnhart appreciating Rollo's American twang).
The Mr Men are popular in these here parts, they'll be back, that's for sure. Jeff Barnhart returns to St Augustine's in September with his piano accompaniment to some classic silent comedy shorts. More details nearer the time. Next month, Saturday June 1st, it's an all start line-up with a visit by Enrico Tomasso's Swing Company. Russell
No comments :
Post a Comment