Ali Affleck (vocals, washboard); Lauryn Gould (tenor sax, clarinet); Emily Asher (trombone); Katie Cavera (banjo) & guest Richard Pite (tuba, drums, ukulele)
Another sweltering day in the capital, Cambridge Circus as busy as ever. Best to wait for the 'green man' before attempting to cross Shaftesbury Avenue. The Spice of Life's cool (cooler) basement would offer welcome relief from the oppressive heat.
Ali Affleck was in town with her Traveling Janes, this lunchtime gig the Janes' final date of their European tour. Scots-born Affleck works with a dizzying array of musician/bands. The Traveling Janes is one such outfit. Comprising of bandleader Affleck (washboard and vocals) and three all-American gals: Lauryn Gould (reeds), Emily Asher (trombone) and Katie Cavera (banjo) and, for this Cambridge Circus engagement only, a token male, Mr. Richard Pite (tuba, drums, ukulele and Spice of Life kingpin).
Bandleader Affleck introduced the numbers, often sharing a thumbnail sketch of the tune - composer, recorded versions etc. My Walking Stick, When You Wore a Tulip, we'd heard them before, but why not hear them again? Weeping Woman Blues (Ma Rainey), I Get the Blues When It Rains (no chance today), Emily singing her boyfriend's song Lazy Bones. Ms Asher considers Hoagy Carmichael to be her 'boyfriend'! All good fun, all well played, a typical Janes' gig.
Second set: Margie, Love Song to a Chambermaid, Shine on Harvest Moon with its vocal harmonies, similarly When You Grow Too Old to Dream, Affleck's Traveling Janes were delivering the goods to the Monday lunchtime regulars. Salty Dog Blues, Rockin' Chair, Sister Kate, give 'em what they want.
Our Americans - Lauryn, Emily and Katie - know their stuff alright. Seated, relaxed, whatever Ali called, they were up for it. An arrangement of Stephen Foster's Old Folks at Home, Sidney Bechet's Lay Your Racket and then an encore as Ali Affleck explored her Celtic heritage with a somewhat incongruous selection, I'll Tell Me Ma, her American sisters happy to sing along. The Spice of Life will see the Traveling Janes returning in the not too distant future, that's for sure. Russell
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