Giacomo Smith (alto sax, clarinet); Rico Tomasso (trumpet, vocals), Tom Walsh, Pete Horsfall, Laura Jurd (trumpets); Zach Sholapurkar (alto sax); Alec Harper (tenor sax); Alex Garnett (tenor sax, clarinet); Jessamy Holder (baritone sax); Dan Higham, Joe Evans, James Wade Sired (trombones); Joe Webb (piano); Honey Boulton (guitar); Anders Fjeldsted (double bass); Snorre Kirk (drums)
Kansas Smitty's lockdown livestreams rapidly became unmissable occasions (jazz fans connecting with old friends, some making new online friends*) and the 2020 Kansas Smitty's Big Band Christmas Day stream recreating Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite has taken its place in the archive. It's a gem.
Fast forward to December this year (2025). A Thursday evening sold out first house, a sold out second house, Ronnie Scott's was doing good business. Forty eight hours later (Saturday) it would be the same story - two sold out performances. This Thursday evening first house, featuring Giacomo Smith's Big Band (formerly Kansas Smitty's Big Band), signalled the start of the festive season.
The Opener for starters. Royal Academy of Music alto saxophonist Zach Sholapurkar the featured soloist, bandleader Smith placing his trust in the student to deliver the goods in front of a packed house. Terrified? Nerves of steel? Either way, ZS didn't disappoint!
For some forty five minutes or so, the big hitters took it in turns to stand in the spotlight. A couple of Giacomo Smith originals, two or three standards, the soloists impressed, of course they did: Rico Tomasso (trumpet), singing A Train, by way of Kansas Smitty's, NYC and London, Alec Harper (tenor sax), Pete Horsfall singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town, it's a winning package.
The 'Great' Danes - drummer Snorre Kirk and bassist Anders Fjeldsted - in tandem with Mercury Prize nominee, pianist Joe Webb, and guitarist Honey Boulton could be tagged the 'Dream Team', simply fabulous.
Tchaikovsky, Ellington, Strayhorn and Smith. Only one of them could be here in person this evening. The Ellington-Strayhorn Nutcracker Suite, from 1960, formed the centrepiece of the evening, directed by G. Smith. The Overture, Sugar Rum Cherry, Volga Vouty (Joe Evans, trombone, the soloist), to the closing section, Arabesque Cookie (notable for Smith once again putting his faith in his fellow alto saxophonist Sholapurkar to take a final solo).
Giacomo Smith's now annual Nutcracker Suite concerts here on Frith Street (four of them this year) are always advance sell outs. It's hardly surprising - the band, the music, the 'Big Day' fast approaching, it all adds up to a great night out. Invariably, the night overruns. This evening's first house wasn't about to buck the trend. As trombonist Dan Higham made his way to the front of stage for a closing solo feature, Giacomo Smith declared The Christmas Song to be his favourite Christmas song. Perfect.
* Post-lockdown, some online friends subsequently met up at gigs the length and breadth of the country - friendships forged out of adversity. Russell
No comments :
Post a Comment