When Art Themen, Pete Whittaker and George Double roll into the club we are always due for a treat. Last night they caught fire and produced a wonderful evening.
I will get to the music in a moment, but it is important to note that presentation is an important part of entertainment. Art’s acerbic comments in his bass voice about his colleagues and other comments were very funny. Who thought of Pete as being a serious ecclesiastic? More importantly, he told us simply and accurately the names and (a few times with help), their composer. Thank you.
And one cannot forget George’s passionate peroration for purchasing CDs.
There is something classic about the organ trio: in this case, organ, drums and Art’s tenor and soprano sax. Oh and claves, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claves. Which, of course annoys George, he is the percussionist, who feels that Art is sticking it to him. All good fun.
I loved every bit of this gig, but Ibraham’s “Water from an Ancient Well” will stand in my mind.
Steve has produced the annotated set list.
- Hanky Panky (Dexter Gordon
- Sweet Emma (Nat Adderley)
- Brahms . . . I Think (Zoot Sims) Zoot’s tune is actually based on Ständchen, a love song by Schubert embellised by Liszt; suggesting Zoot’s apparent uncertainty when naming the tune was the result of his being “Brahms and Liszt”.
- Mad About The Boy (Noel Coward) is about the female adulation heaped upon the 1930s Hollywood matinée idol, Tyrone Power. This version was influenced by Bobby Wellins who played it as a bossa nova.
- The Cape Verde Blues (Horace Silver)
- Bye, Bye Blackbird (Henderson/Dixon)
- Lush Life (Billy Strayhorn)
- Laying Eggs (Dick Crouch) gives full rein to George in funkster mode
* * * * * * *
- Captain Bacardi (Antonio Carlos Jobim)
- Dizzy Moods (Charles Mingus) a tribute to Dizzy Gillespie, based on his composition “Wouldn’t You?”
- Water From An Ancient Well (Abdullah Ibrahim)
- I’m an Old Cowhand (Johnny Mercer)
- The Ruby and The Pearl (Nat King Cole)
- Soppin’ The Biscuit (Roy Hargrove)
- A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square (Maschwitz & Sherwin)
- Chilli Peppers (Duke Pearson)
Encore: Tea For Two (Youmans & Caesar)