BLUE BEAR
REVIEW

Blue Bear Review 26th April

Sing or Swing

Thursday the 26th of April saw the first visit to Bentley's of acoustic guitar duo, Sink or Swing.

WHAT, I hear you cry, have acoustic guitar duos got to do with Jazz? (A question I had asked myself!)

Doubts were quickly dispelled as the first mellow chorus rang out and the inticate interplay between the guitars caressed the ears.

Influenced by the likes of Grant Green, John Schofield and Wes Montgomery, the boys took us through a swinging set of mellow covers. They included Take Five, So What, Work Song, Blue Bossa and Autumn Leaves - all beautifully arranged, and yes, Jazzy!

I have to give a special mention to a quite dazzling version of Misty. It's an old tune covered by many, but few better than this refreshingly different arrangement by Sink or swing - a JAZZ Act!

Catch them on their next visit or move to squaresville.

The Bear

Echoes from the Bear Cave.....

Deep within the Blue Lounge lives the Blue Bear. He is confined to his cave sifting through mountains of records and CDs. Here are some of his favourite tunes this month.....

BLACKNOTE ~ "GETTING YOUR TRANE ON"
1995 tribute to the mighty John Coltrane featuring sterling tenor sax from Teodross Avery

BUDDY RICH BIG BAND ~ "BIG MAC"
Had to dig this funky little number out following a conversation with the Blue Lounge Lizards' drummer, who has everything Buddy has recorded!

FREDDIE HUBBARD ~ "THEME FROM THE GODFATHER"
My favourite trumpeter, my favourite film, orchestrated by Don Sebesky. This is quite simply beautiful

HERBIE HANCOCK ~ "CHAMELEON"
Now don't get me wrong, I love Herbie, and I love this, but the arrangement by the Blue Lounge Lizards surpasses this original. Be there at their next gig or change your name to yesterday!

HORACE SILVER ~ "SONG FOR MY FATHER"
Another tune covered by the Blue Lounge Lizards @ McGintys recently sent me scurrying back to the Bear Cave to dig this original out from the vaults. Dig Joe Henderson's tenor solo.

JOHNNY LYTLE ~ "THE MAN"
Obscure vibes player lays down a lovely little groove on this 1966 number that still sounds fresh today.

QUINCY JONES ~ "KILLER JOE"
Another tune played by the Blue Lounge Lizards that had me digging in the crates for this wonderful orchestrated version of the Benny Golsen tune that I'll love til I die.

UFO ~ "THE PLANET PLAN"
Clearly influenced by those old Lalo Schifrin soundtracks, this club friendly monster is fully orchestrated over a thumping percussion heavy beat.

SOIL & PIMP ~ "THE STINGER"
Japanese outfit Soil & Pimp lay down a retro-organ groove from their 2006 debut. Well worth checking out!

WALTER BISHOP JR~ "CORAL KEYS"
Bishop delivers a wonderful little Bossa-Nova killer allowing the great Harold Vick to get busy on his flute. Lovely.

WILLIS JACKSON ~ "NORTHERN LIKE 'THUTHERN'"
Another Bossa groove, try and stop your feet tapping as this builds and builds with solos on guitar, trumpet and Jackson's own fruity old tenor sax.

That's all folks! The Bear has returned to his cave to dig out more killer tracks. Til next time. Growl!!