Jazz on Sunday - Swing Fever

John Bell, Swing Fever

Swing was assuredly the thing on Sunday 29 March at the New Town National Club, Nixon Street, Castleton when reeds maestros Dave Shepherd and Chris Walker (the mastermind behind the highly successful ‘A Tribute To Trad Jazz’) backed by Paul Francis on piano, Ken Ames on double bass and John Bell on drums, brought Swing Fever to Jazz On A Sunday.

Principals Walker and Shepherd opened proceedings on twin clarinets by ‘Putting On The Ritz’ (referencing betimes the theme song from ‘The Vagabond King’) then it was ‘Exactly Like You’ with (ditto) snatches of Ellington’s ‘Take The ‘A’ Train’, next there was a veritable ‘tear up’ highlighted by the inventive piano and double bass contributions of Messrs Francis and Ames on ‘All I Do Is Dream Of You’ before Chris switched over to alto sax for ‘Lonesome Road’

The first of a number of clarinet solos from Dave Shepherd brought everyone ‘Tea For Two’ then, with Chris and himself taking a well-earned breather, the rhythm section assumed centre stage showcasing small group jazz at its best courtesy of ‘Take The ‘A’ Train’ before the set came to an end with everybody down in ‘Nagasaki’.

Set two began with clarinettists Dave and Chris exploring the higher and lower registers on swing era classic ‘Bei Mir Bist Du Schein’, Chris was back on alto for ‘I Can’t Believe That You’re In Love With Me’ and pianist Francis soloed on Oscar Petersen’s Civil Rights anthem ‘Song To Freedom’.

‘Big Butter And Egg Man’ found Chris back on alto, it was Dave and Paul with the Bob Crosby Bobcats’ Dixieland inspired ‘Spain’ and the set ended to loud acclaim for Shepherd’s tour de force(ful) ‘Running Wild’.

Kicking off the final set it was back again to a saxophone/clarinet combination and ‘My Blue Heaven’, to twin clarinets for ‘If I Had You’ then it was Paul seemingly effortlessly inserting phrases from among others ‘The Pink Panther’ theme, ‘Lullaby Of Birdland’ and ‘Teddy Bear’s Picnic’ into his rendition of 1939 Broadway musical tune ‘Comes Love’.

Dave soloed on Poor Butterfly, there was an appreciatively received nod in the direction of trad jazz by way of ‘The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise’ and to finish a wonderfully executed medley of Benny Goodman favourites comprising ‘Body And Soul’, ‘Moonglow’, ‘On The Alamo’, ‘Sugar’ and ‘Memories Of You’ before, recalling their and in all likelihood most of the Jazz On A Sunday audience’s yesterdays, Swing Fever went ‘Flying Home’.