LIVE AT THE JAZZ AND BLUES CLUB 16-12-25
A four piece rhythm section…upright bass, drums, keyboard, and guitar. Five piece saxophone section, A four piece trumpet section ,and three trombones, and Helen the singer.
They made “God bless you merry gentlemen swing… with Amy the trombone soloist taking it someplace else….cool blues soloing from the pianist.”Santa Baby”was eased in by the guitarist playing a twenties style intro on ukelele.The band strutted through the number bold and brassy….. while the saxophone soloists showed influences of Parker and Coleman.
Helen covered the standard “I’ve got you under my skin” achieving everything I expect from a jazz singer… then pure and powerful on the Jobim number “No more blues”. The sax soloist showed his Coltrane and Parker influences. “Accentuate the positive” Helen swinging over the big brassy beat of the band.
“Have yourself a merry little Chrisrmas”…. taken by Amy’s trombone solo and worked through by the band …. Julian fluid on guitar in the style of John Scofield. The band rocked through “Deck the halls”… like a wave crashing on the beach. Helen mastered the high notes of “Thou swell “ with ease (reminding me of the great Mavis Rivers during the 1950 Auckland jazz concert)…Helen went on to impress on the number “Call me sweetheart”….. filling all possible spaces vocally.
Straight no chaser” a Monk composition like I have never heard it before… the plink plunk kerplunk of Monks piano transferred to a big band setting …the musicians showing what they could do with it…. I was absolutely delighted…. the pianist rocked it up while Peter the trumpet soloist referenced Dizzy Gillespie. “Christmas time is here”….the band painting a winter snowscape round Helens warm vocals.
After the break the upright bass was exchanged for an electric bass guitar…showing a funky Stanley Clarke influence.. Gordon Goodwins arrangement of “The little drummer boy turning into a bold brassy funk soul strut ( like the Creed Taylor recordings of the seventies. ) This lead to a fluid soprano sax solo, and interplay between the keyboard and orchestra.
Helen featured on the next three numbers “It can’t be love”, “Time after time” and, ”Mack the Knife” …. doing everything vocally I expect from a jazz singer. A golden flugelhorn solo in the spirit of Hubbard featured on “ It came upon the midnight clear.” “Let it snow “ coloured by a Parker flavored alto sax solo .True North “featuring Frank Talbert on alto sax … swirling like wind driven snow. The band went out on “Hark the herald angels sing” Amy swinging it on trombone.
GT
