Live Review: Alan Barnes & Steve Waterman at Isleworth
Alan Barnes and Steve Waterman
Red Lion, 92-94 Linkfield Road, Isleworth TW7 6QJ
Monday 23rd November 2015
Alan Barnes alto, Steve Waterman trumpet & flugelhorn, John Pearce piano, Paul Morgan bass, Trevor Tomkins drums.
The Red Lion gigs are run by Trevor Tomkins every Monday evening and are FREE admission. Check the programme on Jazz in London.
Steve has been seen recently at the Snowdrop (another free gig) and the Hassocks Hotel with the Straight No Chaser big band.
Alan is probably the hardest working musician in the country and is currently touring a suite that he has written based on Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol featuring an all star octet with Alan performing readings from Dickens between tunes. Catch it if you can.
If you go to a gig where Alan Barnes is playing, you never get less than a whole hearted virtuoso display of muscular jazz. Coupled with Steve, it made for an evening of some great entertainment
John Pearce , Trevor Tomkins and Paul Morgan were an ideal complement to the leaders and provided some excellent solo work.
There was an eclectic mix of material including: Alone Together, Nica’s Dream, No Greater Love, A rumbustious The Song Is You, Blues Walk, Yesterdays, Joyspring, A lovely version of I fall in Love Too Easily, I Remember April, and Doxy.
All in all, another evening splendid of jazz.
John Edwards