Isomatic UK Weblog

This evening we went to the George & Dragon in Thames Ditton to see the John Barnes quartet, comprising John Barnes (baritone sax, tenor sax, clarinet), Alan Berry (keyboard), Mick Durell (bass guitar) and Don Cook (drums). The guests were John Lang (trombone) and 'Alan' (vocal, pictured with Don). Our favourite numbers were:
1) Dream a Little Dream of Me, composed in 1931 by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt with lyrics by Gus Kahn. The link is to the famous vocal by 'Mama' Cass Elliot.
2) Alan Berry's solo feature The Night We called It a Day, written in 1941 by Matt Dennis with lyrics by Tom Adair. The link is to the modern version by Diana Krall.
3) John Lang's second guest number Mood Indigo composed in 1930 by Barney Bigard, who plays it on this link.
4) 'Alan's' one vocal feature There'll Never Be Another You composed in 1942 by Harry Warren with lyrics by Mack Gordon for the Twentieth Century Fox musical Iceland starring Sonja Henie. The link is to a country & western version by Connie Smith.

When John Barnes played and sang "The Gypsy", he mentioned that Dorothy Squires was said to be "a bit of a handful". This was misinterpreted by some of the audience.

Labels: Jazz