Isomatic UK Weblog

On Thursday evening we went to the Berrylands Hotel in Surbiton, where The Magna jazz band performs every week, this time with three changes from the normal line-up; Dave Hewett (trombone), John Elmer (clarinet, alto sax) and Terry Lewis (string bass). The picture shows the full band, although I could not squeeze all of Alan Dandy in without losing more of Dave's trombone. Selina is in the foreground.
Once again, every number was good but our favourites were:
'I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plans' with just Dave and Alan;
'Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square', played as a jazz waltz;
'Up a Lazy River' with a fine vocal from John;
Alan's solo 'In My Solitude';
'Over The Rainbow' played beautifully, particularly John's alto part.

In the interval we talked to Dave and Sylvia Hewett about the stick I receive by e-mail from modern jazz musicians. We all agreed that cramming the maximum number of notes into each bar is unappealing to the listener. I suspect that those who claim to enjoy it are suffering from a case of 'The King's Clothes'. No doubt this will result in more stick !

Labels: Jazz