A wonderful night of music from this long established (35 years) award winning Hartlepool big band led by saxophonist Mick Donnelly.
A great start was made with Oliver Nelson's Emancipation Blues, a slow subdued intro preceded the full big band sound and with an alto solo from Mark Toomey and trumpet from Bill Watson, it clearly showed the high standard of the musicians.
After playing The Candy Man, Jan Spencelayh was called on to show her fine vocal talents with the lively swinging Gershwin number They Can't Take That Away From Me. The mood was then changed with the band playing a nice arrangement of the lovely Don Gibson ballad, I Can't Stop Loving You and a moving alto solo from Mark.
Paul Skerritt exercised his vocal chords with an excellent version of Jimmy Van Heusen's The Tender Trap, a number from the Frank Sinatra film of the same name.
Further numbers included Lullaby of Broadway, Jan's vocal on My Heart Belongs to Daddy, the 1930s' song Deep Purple and Paul's vocal on Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me, before the first set finished in great style with the Sammy Nestico arrangement of Hayburner.
Starting the second set, the classic It Don't Mean A Thing did really have that swing setting the tempo for a great tenor solo from Josh Bentham and piano from Garry Hadfield.
A most interesting version of A Night Like This based on a scene from the film Casino Royale and well sung by Jan included a nice guitar solo from Ian Bosworth before the standard Have You Met Miss Jones? was played followed by Paul singing Happy Together and the band playing a driving version of Black Coffee.
Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps, by Osvaldo Farres was well sung by Jan with wonderful band backing.
A terrific rendition of Tuxedo Junction featuring the trombone section was big band music at its best demonstrating its wide dynamics and another great tenor solo from Josh.
The Jorge Ben number Mas Que Nada with its Latin rhythm nicely set up by Paul Campbell on drums and Adrian Beadnell on bass was then followed by one of Paul Skerritt's party pieces the swinging Bobby Darin version of Clementine.
The evening was finally brought to a close with a rousing version of Sweet Georgia Brown.
It was a pleasure for both the audience and myself to hear a big band consisting of top class musicians playing and singing a wide variety of music. MD Mick Donnelly, with his jokes and ability to connect with an audience, made for a great night.
Thanks as usual go to the staff of Dorman's for their help and support of the jazz night. Ron Hampton.
Mick Donnelly (MD): Mark Toomey, Andy Devine (alto saxes); Josh Bentham, Barbara Fagan (tenor saxes); Gill Nelson (baritone sax); Bill Watson, Kevin Eland, Dave Harrison, Colin Moore (trumpets); Dave Brocklesby, Terry O'Hern, Peter Smith (trombones); Peter Morgan (bass trombone); Garry Hadfield (piano); Ian Bosworth (guitar); Adrian Beadnell (bass); Paul Campbell (drums); Jan Spencelayh, Paul Skerritt(vocals).
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