gig reviews 2010
 
Paul Harrison's UK Allstars - April
 
Paul Harrison (clt /sop sax)
Kevin Grenfell (tbn/vcls)
Simon Banks (pno/vcls)
Dave Morwood  (bjp/gtr)
Graham Smith   (dms)
 

It was another full house tonight, with one lady even driving from Southport especially to catch this one, and the huge demand for drinks before the band started had the bar staff working above even their usual efficiency. The attraction was, of course, the four musicians already familiar to our club audience and Paul Harrison over on a two week tour from Denmark. There was some anticipation as to how this combination would sound but all became clear as they swung into All of Me.  Simon’s strong left hand and Graham’s bass drum seemed to intuitively allow for the absence of a bass and Kevin took a more direct approach to the melody as a trumpet alternative whilst Dave’s guitar made a perfect link between rhythm and front line.
 Paul was the focal figure tonight and his solo clarinet was showcased on Struttin’ with Some Barbeque where the changes were explored over the whole range of the instrument, soaring in the upper register, husky and bubbling in the lower. A zestful display which prompted inspired drum breaks from Graham.
 
 
 
 
 
 


Kevin with his usual audience rapport led us in a sing along from Bye Bye Blackbird to Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree and back again and remembered his roots with a quote from the Furry Dance as the band managed to finish a frantic version of Indiana more or less together.
Paul’s solo clarinet was again featured in the second half with Wildcat Blues in a more robust rendering than the Monty Sunshine hit of fifty odd years ago – yes it really was that long!
Dave’s  humming in unison with his guitar as he took a solo in I Can’t Give You Anything but Love was rather reminiscent of Roland Kirk humming down his flute after which the front line managed to fit in a few bars of Moonlight Serenade, the Furry Dance (again) and the Harry Lime Theme. We had our money’s worth from this one.

 
 
by Peter Farrall
photo by Val Wood
 

.Dave (someone said he was a Colonel Sanders from KFC look alike) sang My Little Bimbo from the Walter Donaldson songbook to a vigorous self accompaniment on banjo. The vigour carried over to the next number, China Boy which was uninhibited to say the least ,in contrast to a smooth and gentle trombone on  A Nightingale Sang............. with just keyboard backing in organ mode .
A real taste of classic trad came by way of Bourbon Street Parade, clarinet and trombone managing very well without a trumpet and Graham being unleashed for an impressive solo with much use of his beloved cowbells.
Kevin again prompted the crowd in a sing along to It’s a Wonderful World as the musicians said goodnight, and with entertainment of this quality it was certainly a wonderful night at Pershore Jazz Club.