December’s first visit by Enrico Tomasso proved to be quite a memorable one, for all the right reasons. Nearly 50 of you braved the rather foul weather – please accept a gold star- and were duly rewarded by a great evening of warm and skilful music-making.
From the first notes of the opener, Irving Berlin’s ‘The Song is Ended’ (surely more suitable as a sign-off, guys?), it was apparent that all present were very much on the same wavelength, and that a treat was in store.
Enrico may be, no is, vying with recent visitor Digby Fairweather for the title of top UK mainstream trumpet player, but our less-well-known local luminaries (yes, I’m going for the alliteration award) were not outshone in any way. You could see, feel and most of all hear the mutual respect between Enrico and the Swing City Trio, and many of the best moments involved the inter-twining of the two blowing instruments, aided by the subtly swinging rhythm.
The programme was little short of inspired, mixing quality standards like ‘How High the Moon’ and ‘That’s My Home’ with less frequently heard but very welcome picks from the Great American Songbook like ‘I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues’ , I Know That You Know’ and ‘Indian Summer’. Steve Andrews was majestic on ballads like ‘Don’t Blame Me’, Roly Veitch was quietly impressive throughout, and Roy Cansdale made the most of his few solo outings while remaining indispensable as an anchor. Enrico sang engagingly on a few numbers, soloed impressively on all of them, but totally stunned the audience with a magnificent tribute to Bunny Berigan on ‘I Can’t Get Started’, popping out the high notes with apparent ease. All in all, another truly splendid night.
Follow that! Was the cry. To which I can only respond with a nervous whimper, as it falls to me to do so on 11 January. Not just me, of course, but my band Mainline Jazz, which includes the aforesaid Roy Cansdale on bass, the club’s favourite octogenarian Tim Belford on keyboard, and the swingy Brian Teagle in the drum chair. So the rhythm is taken care of, and with fine Ulverstonian trumpeter Brian Judge in the front line I think we stand a sporting chance of not building up to an awful let-down. However, rest assured that we will be thoroughly on our mettle, and we’ll do our best to brighten the dog days of January with an interesting and varied programme.
The rest of the year is starting to look very good, with Tim Kliphuis in February, the Janet Seidel Trio in March, and Scott Hamilton/Tom Kincaid returning in April.
Speaking of Janet Seidel, she and her trio are appearing just down the road at the Heron Theatre in Beetham on 20 and 21st January, featuring Cole Porter songs on the first night and Johnny Mercer on the second. Booking for non-members opens on 13 January, tel 015395 64283 or boxoffice@the herontheatre.com, so if you missed this wonderful singer at the Beer Hall on her first visit here’s a chance to catch her in a different setting, at a mere £10 per night. If you do go, I guarantee you’ll want to hear her again at Staveley in March.
All the best for the bright new year of 2012. Keep coming to the Beer Hall to ward off all the evils of Euro collapse, Coalition splits etc etc etc!
From the first notes of the opener, Irving Berlin’s ‘The Song is Ended’ (surely more suitable as a sign-
Enrico may be, no is, vying with recent visitor Digby Fairweather for the title of top UK mainstream trumpet player, but our less-
The programme was little short of inspired, mixing quality standards like ‘How High the Moon’ and ‘That’s My Home’ with less frequently heard but very welcome picks from the Great American Songbook like ‘I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues’ , I Know That You Know’ and ‘Indian Summer’. Steve Andrews was majestic on ballads like ‘Don’t Blame Me’, Roly Veitch was quietly impressive throughout, and Roy Cansdale made the most of his few solo outings while remaining indispensable as an anchor. Enrico sang engagingly on a few numbers, soloed impressively on all of them, but totally stunned the audience with a magnificent tribute to Bunny Berigan on ‘I Can’t Get Started’, popping out the high notes with apparent ease. All in all, another truly splendid night.
Follow that! Was the cry. To which I can only respond with a nervous whimper, as it falls to me to do so on 11 January. Not just me, of course, but my band Mainline Jazz, which includes the aforesaid Roy Cansdale on bass, the club’s favourite octogenarian Tim Belford on keyboard, and the swingy Brian Teagle in the drum chair. So the rhythm is taken care of, and with fine Ulverstonian trumpeter Brian Judge in the front line I think we stand a sporting chance of not building up to an awful let-
The rest of the year is starting to look very good, with Tim Kliphuis in February, the Janet Seidel Trio in March, and Scott Hamilton/Tom Kincaid returning in April.
Speaking of Janet Seidel, she and her trio are appearing just down the road at the Heron Theatre in Beetham on 20 and 21st January, featuring Cole Porter songs on the first night and Johnny Mercer on the second. Booking for non-
All the best for the bright new year of 2012. Keep coming to the Beer Hall to ward off all the evils of Euro collapse, Coalition splits etc etc etc!
BRUCE'S BLOG: JAN/FEBRUARY 2012
By Ben Goodman, modesty forbidding Bruce.
To those of us not chosen, the art of the jazz musician is a secret alchemy and a constant source of wonder. Mainline Jazz doesn't play much as a unit these days- but you wouldn't know it. And if 'Doggin' Around' started out as ' As Long as I Live' take two, you had a hunch that these latter day magi would finesse themselves back on message with barely a demi-semi caesura.
It's typical of the breed that the Mainliners are dismissive of praise, as if flicking unwarranted stardust from those natty waistcoats. But stay the hand and let that dust settle on uniformly, splendid ensemble passages or such as the subtle flugelhorn/ bass clarinet harmonies in ' Lullaby of the Leaves.' Typical of the breed also to pass around the limelight: Pete Boswell's witty ''S Wonderful' trombone, Brian Judge's lyrical ' It Had to Be You' trumpet - et al.
Bruce kept calm and carried on despite instrumental difficulties and especially pleasured us in ' Apex Blues' with echoes of Goodman-not me but that imposter from Chicago- in ' Christopher Columbus', so rarely heard excised from ' Sing, Sing, Sing.'
All this by turn driven or burnished along by the remarkable triumvirate of Tim Belford, Roy Cansdale, and Brian Teagle. Tim's cameos were as always ' Fine and Dandy', Roy especially memorable in ' At the Jazz Band Ball' with Brian ' sticking it to us' during 'Nobody's Sweetheart.'
And heaven rest us, these blokes also sang, dragging a ' Flat Foot Floogie' from a Fan Lit Fannied backwater and the light of Pete Boswell's vocal talent from beneath what is usually a strategically-positioned bushel.
Amongst all the fun, Bruce led a deeply felt reading of ' Softly As in a Morning Sunrise', the beautiful Romberg ballad, as a tribute to the local trumpeter and cornetist, Dave Savill, who died on December 31st.
Thanks to those KJC stalwarts- and others- who turned out in a good number and helped us towards a much needed profit on the night. They clearly enjoyed a well-paced and varied recital completed by 'Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone': Bruce hoping that we wouldn't talk about the band afterwards.
Sorry, Bruce, we will....but in the nicest possible ways.
Our February 8th attraction marks the welcome return of the remarkable Dutch violinist, Tim Kliphuis.
The gypsy jazz of Stéphane Grappelli meets folk meets classical in a unique blend which segues seamlessly betwixt the melodic and lyrical and the dazzlingly pyrotechnic.
Superlatives are often misplaced- but not here, as those who have heard Tim before will doubtless testify.
Stalwart support from Roy Cansdale (string bass) and Roly Veitch (acoustic guitar).
Below are links to two of Tim's Youtube clips:
