FITZ SWING - UC JAZZ BAND AT FITZWILLIAM COLLEGE
Brilliant bold and brassy, Fitz Swing in action some time.
A fabulous fun band, Fitz Swing took the roof off the ready raked concert hall at Fitzwilliam College this week. I counted sixteen players including five saxophones in a banked blast of sound, there are three trumpeters and a record number of trombones – an impressive battalion all ready to ‘give that rhythm every thing they got’
The menu of jazz mostly from the Forties was impeccable. A no-nonsense opener, Big Swing Face swung us into the mood with Man Man Ching on keys for a superb contribution - and trumpeter Jack Emsley thrilled with another significant solo.
Duke Ellington’s immortal ‘It Don’t Mean a Thing if it ain’t got that Swing’ went wonderfully – enhanced by gutsy vocals from visiting Aussie Ariella Gordon. She did a slick professional intro for the band , cool and stylish. Her gorgeous ‘Unforgettable’ put her in the Nat King Cole league, her voice a perfect match for the Holmes Arrangement. Naturally I sat up straight for a funky Ms Garvey, Ms Garvey an original strong rendition with brilliant bass from James Barrett. Has to be a signature tune from now on.
Ariella Gordon’s Blue Skies hit those 1930s optimistic lyrics hard – from an era before self -doubt, swung into an even better It’s Only a Paper Moon, a perfect song for her powerful voice - did she even need amplification. In the Mood was vintage heaven with precision playing and fabulous timing from all the brass.
The crazy zenith of the concert was wonderfully, Sing Sing Sing where the brilliant manic drum solo from Richard Bateman knocked us for six in the stalls..The spirit of Gene Krupa was with him - as was Benny Goodman no doubt.. It certainly dazzled the audience who emerged breathless from a great and gutsy celebration of Big Band Jazz.
Of course as a University-bound band, the members change all the time – I twice hired them for parties and they appeared in different guises. The band is sporting a slightly bizarre uniform at the moment , skimpy black Chairman Mao suits with bucket hats reminiscent of Bill and Ben the Flower Pot Men or a Bowls club on an annual outing. But whatever the get-up,Fitz Swing keep a riotously delightful genre alive – look out for them!
Nota Bene, these concerts are on at Fitzola for the next few weeks and range from Steel Pans to Rachmaninov - they are free.
