West Side Jazz Orchestra: Live at West Side Jazz

Once more, West Side Jazz impresario and drummer Dave Tandy gathered together some of the best big band players the UK has to offer. Performing a collection of standards, arrangements and a Mark Nightingale original, the West Side Jazz Orchestra entertained a packed audience in Welwyn Garden City.

WSJO (c) rw_crowley

This was the second outing for the WSJO for this year and many of the members of the audience had loved the first night so much they had come back for more. They were treated to a selection of tunes played beautifully by some of the best musicians in the country, many of whom are heard regularly on the West End stage and further afield.

WSJO saxes (c) rw_crowley

WSJO trumpets (c) rw_crowley

Colin Skinner’s alto took the lead in a precise sax section of Simon Marsh, Nadim Teimoori, George Millard and Jessamy Breakspear. Behind them sat the trombone section of Mark Nightingale, Nichol Thomson, Rory Ingham and Eddie Curtis and then an incredible line-up of trumpets - Freddie Gavita, Louis Dowdeswell, Simon Gardner and Nick Dewhurst. Alongside Dave Tandy’s drums, the rhythm section was Dave Whitford (bass) and Ross Stanley (piano).

The audience was appreciative and the sound controlled by the inimitable Chris Traves.

Mark Nightingale takes a solo (c) rw_crowley

The Nightingale Lucidity included rather marvellous solos from Freddie Gavita and Simon March, while the evening’s standards included You’d be So Nice to Come Home To, Baby Won’t You Please Come Home, Social Call and The Folks Who Live On the Hall.

The finishing tune was Gordon Goodwin’s Sing Sang Sung and it was only when the house lights went up that the audience showed any sign of moving. Once more, Dave Tandy and the WSJO left the audience wanting more.

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