This evening we went to the
George & Dragon in Thames Ditton to see the John Barnes quartet, comprising John Barnes (baritone sax, alto sax, clarinet and vocals), Alan Dandy (keyboard), Mick Durelle (string bass) and Don Cook (drums). John is pictured wearing a very bright waistcoat featuring cats and singing 'If I Had My Way' in the style of Vera Lynn.
The numbers we enjoyed most were:
'Bluesology' by Milt Jackson (Alan switching his keyboard to vibes mode), reminding us of the 1960s when Jim Douglas always played it as his feature while resident guitarist with Alex Welsh;
'(In My) Solitude' by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Eddie DeLange and Irving Mills (1934);
Alan's solo features 'Laura', dedicated to his daughter of that name in the audience, then, later, 'Alligator Crawl', which we never tire of hearing.
Guests were John Shepherd and John Lang playing 'That's a Plenty', 'Blue Turning Grey', 'California Here I Come' and 'Ring Dem Bells'. The Christmas special number was 'Santa's Back In Town' performed by a toy bear on the saxophone. Alan was reluctant to accompany it, not because it was a bear but because it played in such unfamiliar keys, changing key at least twice.
The Pub Landlord came to the microphone to wish us compliments of the season and encourage us to return for more jazz in future. Now this would never happen at the Cricketers.
As we left, Selina, wearing her pink mini-skirt, had to squeeze past the other guy seated at our table. As her legs passed his face, he commented to me "at least YOU will have something good in the Christmas Stocking !"
Labels: Jazz
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