Another sold out performance for Bold Big Band as we took to the stage at the Black Swan. With three sets of exciting music including powerful solos from all around the band, ending with great audience participation in Minnie the Moocher and Hey Jude
Review
Bold Big Band are the best looking big band I’ve seen in years. They’re also the youngest – no shiny pates or grizzly grey beards in this outfit.
They’re a well rehearsed band with tight section work all round. The phrasing of the unaccompanied saxes on Cruisin’ for a Bluesin’ was absolutely spot on and behind Polley’s excellent vocals they achieved an authentic 1930s’ sound.
Down in the engine room all four kept the ship afloat as a unit and soloed to great effect.
Lead alto Lightfoot had several solos as did tenor saxists Crissi and Lucy. Billy Bradshaw was featured on trumpet and flugel, Thomas Howarth also blew hot and Alex Utting stood up for the sliders.
The beauty of uni-based bands is the personnel changes that occur from year to year as students graduate and leave for ‘the professions’ with sax slings exchanged for stethoscopes and music cases replaced by legal cases.
Hopefully at least some of the band will continue to pursue a career in jazz even if it’s only in the evening after a day saying ‘open wider’ to a petrified dental patient.
A most enjoyable gig. Lance – Read the full review
Lineup
Saxes: Jacob Lightfoot, Pippa Morgan, Crissi Booth, Lucy McCartan, Brian Wicks
Trumpets: Billy Bradshaw, Joe Hey, Lucy McKinlay, Thomas Howarth
Trombones: Alex Utting, Bertie Marks, Charis Bailey, Conor Emery
Guitar: Ben Davies
Keys: Alex Ngeyu
Bass: Ifede Osiyemi
Drums: Dan Arenstein
Pieces
School of Thought
Mercy, Mercy, Mercy
Have You Met Miss Jones
The Way You Look Tonight
El Abrazo
Cruisin’ for a Bluesin’
A Beautiful Friendship
Every Summer Night
Blue Skies
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
Sing Sang Sung
Pick Up The Pieces
Sunset and Vine
Minnie the Moocher
Hey Jude