Tonight was a tough call - the Ruth Lambert quintet at the Side or Gerry Richardson's Big Idea at the College? In the end I opted for Ruth and I didn't regret it; all five were on top of their game. Scorching tenor solos from Graeme Wilson - is there a better tenor player around? Imaginative pianowork from Paul Edis - his chunky block chords contrasting with some facile runs that verged on the impossible. Paul also filtered some laid back sensitivity onto the ballads. Andy Champion (bs) and Tim Johnston (dms) were also relatively laid back. Andy's day will come next week on his solo gig. Tim drove the uptempo blasts along nicely - they swung.And Ruth? I've heard a lot of Ruth of late and I have to admit she never lets me down. Maybe she has off nights, maybe; I wouldn't know.
Last time I caught her she sang "No Moon At All". That tune wasn't in her program tonight but there was no shortage of lunacy with "That Old Devil Moon" and "How High The Moon"; the latter lifting off at somewhere close to the speed of light.
However, it was the ballad, "This Is Always," which did it for me; one of Harry Warren's finest.
In the jam that followed, Paul blew flute, David Carnegie sat in on piano and Felix who isn't Felix played guitar.
Good gig.
OK Lance " This is always" is another I need to be tutured in...never heard of it, but I know it will be a gem if you make mention of it!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a cue for "Teach Me Tonight"!
ReplyDelete****************
This Is Always
This isn't sometime, this is always
This isn't maybe, this is always
This is love, the real beginning of forever.
This isn't just midsummer madness
A passing glow, a moment's gladness.
Yes, it's love, I knew it on the night we met.
You tied a string around my heart
So how can I forget you?
With every kiss I know that this is always.
*****************
Chet Baker does a beautiful version. You can get it free on Google.
Harry Warren and Mack Gordon wrote it back in the 1940s.
ReplyDeleteRuth does it on her new, soon to be released, CD.
I've just listened to Chet Baker's "This is Always"...lovely, very reminiscent of the sort of thing Dick Haymes used to sing...also Frankie, but I certainly had never heard it.
ReplyDeleteRuth have an off night? Never! I was at the Big Idea gig and I just knew Ruth would deliver, as always.
ReplyDeleteRussell