| gig reviews 2010 |
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| June |
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Pete Ainge (tpt), Kevin Grenfell (tbn), Mike Hayler (rds), Pete Robinson (bjo/gtr), Roger Heath (bs), Nick Millward (dms). |
 Rumours about the break up of the Hearts had caused some confusion, but this was the last time the band would be playing with it’s familiar line-up and bright Dixieland sound.
The programme content was characteristically traditional and, played with the imaginative panache associated with this band, old but ever new.
Beale Street Blues set the scene, good trad fare, but not many bands play a version where the trombone carries on when the other five have stopped, prompting looks of “ Hello...... Kevin..... we’ve finished” Unrehearsed humour right from the start!
Ellington’s Mood Indigo has lent itself to many interpretations from solo voice to symphony orchestra and here we had a delightfully mellow six piece version with Mike’s clarinet setting the tone (After all, Barney Bigard was the co composer) and a double tempo guitar solo from Pete up to a well crafted, powerful climax.
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Pete Ainge’s vocal on Someday You’ll Be Sorry and Roger’s prominent bass in a very danceable Smile led to the almost rock’n’roll flavoured riffs in Savoy Blues.Kevin delivering the lyrics of I Can’t Give You Anything But Love also gave us three tunes in one by fitting in snatches of the Harry Lime theme and the Furry Dance on trombone. The topical number of the evening was In A “Pershore” Market with the now mandatory muted trumpet part admirably executed by Pete and Nick’s turn for the mike came via Ain’t Misbehaving with some nifty scat singing, sounding in places a bit like the phrasing of his drumming.
Pete’s banjo led the ensemble into Avalon, with a solo from Mike which again seemed to evoke a fleeting reminiscence of Barney Bigard and Lead Me On Precious Lord featured a trombone and drum duet, top hat muted trumpet and a full trad climax.
Happy Birthday Joan cha-cha’d the band and made a round trip, Harlem Bound, for Pete and Kevin to invite an audience sing along to You Wore a Tulip.
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The entertainment continued starting with just trumpet and trombone alone, adding bass, then full band for an inspired account of Dippermouth Blues and another good old number Ory’s Creole Trombone unleashed Kevin’s virtuosity. Georgia, written around 1930 possibly for a girl but now the official song of the US state, had Nick resisting the temptation to sound like Ray Charles to give a vocal balance to Pete’s fine trumpet work.
Bourbon Street Parade containing Nick’s riveting drum solo, leading on to the Hearts playing out for the last time, with help in the chorus from the audience, with their signature sign off tune of Bye Bye Blackbird rounding off an evening of superb jazz.
And it was indeed goodbye; to Kevin who is off to pastures new and Pete Ainge who is taking some time off from playing.
It’s a little sad to see the end of a line up who have given us so much pleasure over the years but Roger assured us that the Heart of England Jazz Band name will continue, with new faces and a different style and approach.
Good luck guys and we’ll always remember your last tremendous session here at Pershore Jazz Club. |
