Paul Skerritt Big Band @ Pilgrim - August 10

Paul Skerritt (vocals); Tom Rushton, Benny Coxon, Sara James, Sam Armstrong (trumpets); Chris Gray, Chris Kurgi-Smith, Ben Haslam, Alex Utting (trombones); Dan Johnson, Jamie Toms, Sue Ferris, Alan Marshall, Niall Armstrong (reeds); Jeremy McMurray (keys); Mark Williams (guitar); Andy Champion (bass guitar); John Bradford (drums); Stuart McLean Fowler (M.D.)

Pilgrim was jumpin'. Even before the debonaire Paul Skerritt launched his respectful tributes to Sinatra, Bennett, Darin, Dean and others, the 17 piece ensemble under the virtual baton of M.D. Stuart Fowler had got the room primed for the entrance of Mr. P.S. with a swinger of a ring-a-ding-dinger Basie style number with a tasty tenor solo from Sue Ferris of whom more would be heard later.

Then it was time for the star of the show to deliver a tried and tested programme of the very best songs from the GASbook and beyond. His perfect pitching and suave interpretation of Just Say Hello; Fly me to the Moon and I've Got You Under my Skin with Kurgi-Smith recreating the famous Milt Bernhart break on the iconic Sinatra version of the latter tune had those who'd made the pilgrimage to Pilgrim more than pleased with the performance with more, much more, to follow.

This came in the form of Georgia on my Mind; The Lady is a Tramp; Hard Hearted Hannah; Goody Goody; Me and Mrs Jones; Come Fly With me and I Left my Heart in San Francisco which brought the first set to a close.

Nobody left! The general consensus was an excellent singer and a band swinging like a band ought to swing with a trumpet section that raised the roof a couple of stories higher.

However, it wasn't trumpets that took centre stage on the instrumental number that kicked off the second set. The plaudits on this one were shared by the duelling tenors of Sue Ferris and Alan Marshall. They slugged it out note for note, bar for bar with no 'musical' holds barred. The jury's still out as to who got the decision but the overall winner was the audience.

Skerritt knew he had to follow that big time and he did just that with more showstoppers that didn't stop the dancers from strutting their stuff.

Beyond the Sea; Ain't That a Kick in the Head; Eye of the Tiger; Could it be Magic;  American Boy; The More I See You; Mack the Knife; Mr Brightside; American Beauty Rose; Sway; Minnie the Moocher; Can't Take my Eyes off You and That's Life brought a great gig to a close.

Don't miss the Paul Skerritt Big Band next time round - watch this space. Lance

PS: Apologies for accidental, premature posting of initial review - I hit the wrong button!