| Just Jazz Magazine, London, UK |
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- June 2006 This is the band that supported Graeme Bell for his final ‘final’ concert, which took place at his old school, Scotch College, Hawthorn, Melbourne, on the 4th March, 2006. The band was formed in 2004 and its stated aim is ‘to bring new life to the hot and sweet sounds of the 1920s and 1930s’. They remind me of the Charleston Chasers and Harry Strutters Hot Rhythm Orchestra, also the New York-based Vince Giordano’s Nighthawks. However, there is one big difference – the nine musicians in this band are still in their twenties. They are all good soloists and their standard of musicianship is impeccable. Their choice of material is all-embracing, indicating a close study of the Classic jazz recorded repertoire, including a number of lesser-known items, such as Franz Jackson’s Yellow Fire and Cliff Jackson’s The Terror. The 24 year old leader arranged most numbers, and his efforts are original and appropriate. Sensibly he left both the Ellington compositions and the one by Morton largely in the form we know. Three band members are ladies: Cassandra Liston, whose trombone playing is silky, Lauren Van Der Werff, who plays clarinet and tenor sax with style, while imaginative drummer, Sandra Talty, pleasantly sings on eight numbers in a style not unlike Annette Hanshaw with a slight Australian accent. The version of Casa Loma Stomp is a classy reminder of a great band in its day and stays lose to Gene Gifford’s original arrangement, while the title of the CD is taken from trumpet player Donald Lindley’s rarely revived 1925 pop song recorded by him with Ross Gorman. Bechet’s Southern Sunset features good soprano playing, while the renderings of I’ll Be A Friend With Pleasure, Stardust and Was I To Blame? are particularly attractive. The concluding Swing That Music is taken at an impressively lively lick. All the numbers are played with vivacity. A promising debut. As a tribute to him, their programme includes three well rendered compositions by Graeme, all dating back to 1950-51. In his turn, Graeme is happy to endorse the band as ‘easily one of the best Australian bands on the scene today’. On this evidence I second that. - Horace Meunier Harris |
| Last Updated on Saturday, 17 May 2008 18:10 |
