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Jack Massarik's rating
Jazz juggernaut packs a punch
By
Jack Massarik
4 Jan 2007
Now in its 43rd year - which is twice as old as most of its members - Bill Ashton's latest NYJO juggernaut sounds sparkier and more loose-limbed than usual.
Tightly drilled as ever but less uptight, their punchy performance combined precision with a sense of fun.
Richard Shepherd won applause for his warm tenor-sax tone and unhurried ideas in Our Love is Here to Stay, but I preferred the probing work of two flugel-horn specialists, Freddie Gavita and Henry Armburg-Jennings.
Altoist Tommy Laurence, son of double-bassist Chris, took the evening's fieriest solo. Guitarist Chris Montague showed originality and pianist-arranger Will Bartlett expertly carved up Honeysuckle Rose.
East Ham's young Sinatra, Attila Huseyn, crooned a couple of standards with his customary elan, and Sarah Ellen Hughes, fighting off an intrusive arrangement, made delightful work of an ancient Cockney gem. My Old Man (Said Follow the Van) made a surprisingly good jazz vehicle. Recommended.
• Until Saturday (020 7439 0747)
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (1)
I was lucky enough to catch Sarah Ellen Hughes singing at John Dankworth's venue "The Stables" in Milton Keynes. Cleo Laine was billed to sing in the second half but wasn't well. Sarah did her own set then stood in for Cleo, giving such a perfect rendition of the songs Cleo would have sung that it brought the house down, with Dankworth applauding louder than anyone.
- Lynn Ten Kate, Hampshire UK, 01/05/2009 23:22
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