More than just a live sax show

Gelato plays tenor sax, but his singing, jiving and fun-loving approach to the music business harks right back to men like Prima and Jordan, larger-than-life band leaders whose shows were slick, professional and never gave the punters a yawnworthy moment. Ace guitarist Jim Mullen is offering some meaty, neobop solos at Ronnie?s this week, but it?s not until Gelato?s septet bounds on to the bandstand that non-aficionados perk up.

Mixing pop classics such as That?s Amore (Dean Martin) with jazz classics like Solitude (Duke Ellington) and Air Mail Special (Lionel Hampton, Benny Goodman), they dink along with the crisp, good-time, two-beat feel that sold millions of records in the Forties and Fifties before jazz sobered up for its concert-hall phase.

Gelato deserves credit for reviving this style and giving trumpeter Rico Tomasso and saxman Alex Garnett room to bloom. On ballads, he gets a beautifully breathy, Ben Webster-like tone out of his tenor sax, but first and foremost Gelato?s an entertainer.

His vocals won?t frighten Tony Bennett, but were good enough to enliven born-again crooner Robbie Williams?s recent tour, not to mention Bryan Ferry?s birthday party. In their dreams, Robbie and Bryan probably strut their stuff with Gelato?s Giants every night.

Ray Gelato And The Giants Orchestra