Mama's Jazz Babies

The Madcap Mamas made a very welcome return to Jazz on a Sunday sporting their first CD 'The Cage is Open' which was 'triggered' by my review of their last visit - the power of the pen! Playing with their free spirit and unpredictable tendencies, an evening of great entertainment was always assured. As long as there was a darkened room to retire to at the end of the gig!

With a powerful front line of Rebecca McShane's trumpet, Stuart Scott's reeds and the droll deadpan humour of trombonist Alan Miller. Their inimitable style shone through on a variety of popular numbers. Vocals were shared with Scott starting the ball rolling with "Washington and Lee Swing", "Georgia on my Mind" with the yazoo of Miller, "Move the Body Over", "A porter's Love Song to a Chambermaid", "Shine", "Sheikh of Araby".

The madness of "Jambalaya" with rousing trumpet, whistles and maracas - spice is nice and solo sax on "Sweet Sue" with Miller's vocal and Bert Schroeder's banjo and slow sax in "I'm Confessin'" with McShane's neat dragging trumpet.

Miller, who introduced the three spasms (sets to you) used his vocal chords on "Dr Jazz", "Jada", "So do I" and "Alexander's Ragtime Band" also using his trombone to good effect.

Rebecca McShane's powerful trumpet was silenced for her vocals with "Indiana", "Running Wild" and "I Want to be Like You" from Jungle Book accompanied by the walk around 'sousaphone' of Roger Hewitt!

Andy Hudston (sound engineer) stood in on drums for a few numbers for Steve Conneran and joined in the fun of "When You're Smiling" with multi-vocals from Miller, McShane's 'Queen Elizabeth', Scott's German intonations, Hewitt's broadest Brummie tones and Schroeder's laughing banjo - help!!

Schroeder gave us his words of "China Town" along with banjo chords and an evening of many quirky arrangements ended with Miller leading the 'Outro' with "Mama Don't Allow". God knows what would happen if 'Mama did allow'!

Mama's Jazz Babies
Sunday 9 October 2005