Paul Skerritt
(vocals); Dan Johnson, Alan Marshall, Kim Skerritt, Josh Bentham, Niall
Armstrong (reeds); Sam Armstrong, Benny Coxon, Dave Hignett, Michael Lamb
(trumpets); Kieran Parnaby, Eddie Bellis, Alex Utting, Chris Gray (trombones);
Stu Collingwood (keyboards); Pawel Jedrzejewski (guitar); Jamie Watkins (bass);
John Bradford (drums); Stuart Fowler (MD)
It's become an
annual thing. Hire a local venue, promote a concert featuring many of the
region's familiar A-listers, an audience materialises and the man has got
himself a big band gig. The Westovian Theatre is local to 'the man', that's
vocalist Mr Paul Skerritt. At a little after half past seven, the Paul Skerritt
Big Band hit the stage.
It's not quite the
season to be jolly, however, this evening on Pier Parade signalled the start of
the festivities. A bundle of energy is Mr Skerritt, How do you
do? enquired Mr S, I've got you under my skin - you
knew it was coming, Kieran Parnaby giving it the Milt Bernhart treatment It
works every time!
Mr S confided his
first dance at his wedding was It Had to Be You. As his 'other
half', Kim Skerritt, was sitting in the reeds, Mr S was on his best behaviour.
It became apparent some in the audience had enjoyed a sherbet or two, not quite
legless, but, you know. Quick as a flash, our man engaged, it's part and parcel
of the repartee! The band - and what a band! - did get a chance to play, not
least Dan Johnson (tenor sax) blowing on Eye of the Tiger.
Second set: more
of the same, the inter-song patter, the band blowing when given the
chance. Goody Goody, Estelle's American Boy (a
little hip-hop never hurt anyone!), The Drifters' Save the Last Dance
for Me (for big band), Sway, Michael Lamb growling to
great effect on Minnie the Moocher, things were going well.
As the end of the
evening approached, Mr Skerritt launched in to a party season classic - but not
before thanking his MD, Stuart Fowler, and name-checking his band, each and
everyone of them at the top of their game. Literally bouncing up and down to Can't
Take My Eyes Off You, Paul Skerritt was in his element. The audience
singing along, arms waving, it was game, set and match to the Paul Skerritt Big
Band. Russell
1 comment :
Absolutely cracking night, loved it and will definitely be going to the Glass House in April to see them again….. Well done everyone!!🍻
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