” … so successful … a shame it had to end”
John Wallbank reviews February’s Big Jamboree:
I confess that like all good critics I arrived a little late and missed the first three numbers. My first impression was the size of the audience: it took me a couple of minutes to find a chair. The two featured artists, Sue Jameson and Peter Sellars, had done a great selling job and had found an enthusiastic and receptive audience.
The playlist was an eclectic mix: one rarely hears Lush Life and Bring Me Sunshine at the same gig. I was impressed that Sue gave each song an individual reading, giving each lyric a narrative purpose. Peter’s violin accompaniments were tasteful and never too intrusive. His solos were a great demonstration of melodic interpretation. This was an evening when everything gelled: it was not two soloists and a rhythm section, but a mighty swinging quintet (and sextet when they were joined by Jamie Thompson on alto saxophone). As an ensemble, they all seemed to enjoy the evening as much as the audience. There were great solos from Gabriel Keen on keyboards and Kevin Dunford on bass, including a musical joke from Kevin. Dave Hawthorn on drums held things together brilliantly, reminding me of Cannonball Adderley’s description of his drummer, Roy Haynes, “Roy takes care of business”.
The whole show was well-presented, and Andy Dehaney-Steven should be congratulated on the good sound balance. The lighting, combined with the table layout and dressings, turned the room into a warmly lit and welcoming venue. The Jamboree was so successful, it was a shame it had to end.
