Ben Holder - Violin
Richard Smith - Lead guitar
John Smith - Rhythm guitar
Steve Peters - Bass
It’s a year to the day since Djongoglogy were here at the club, although last time,
with Mike Green from Fret and Fiddle depping on bass. Regular bass man, Steve, arrived and immediately shot off to the nearest filling station having driven the last few miles on just the vapours in his fuel tank; ah, the life of a travelling musician.
Whilst the band were setting up, in walked Little George, fully recovered from the worrying time in hospital which prevented him leading the parade at the August festival. Lots of hugs all round, a (literally) heart stopping account of his time in hospital and George brought his favourite pint to join us as the music started.
(Way Back Home in) Indiana, very adaptable to all styles, was given the full Hot Club treatment with solos all round, to immediately remind us of the incredible virtuosity of these four musicians, Ben explaining afterwards that he is still young ( twenty-one), fond of playing in this frantic manner, and will mature to a calmer style some time in the future.
And then a hint of future mellowness on a gently swinging Sweet Lorraine with a very pleasant vocal (OK Ben?), and where the violin soaring around the melody as defined by Richard’s guitar was reminiscent of the trumpet- clarinet rapport in a trad front line.
The band, as the name implies, owe a great allegiance to the Reinhardt/Grappelli brand of jazz but each contributing to the continued evolution of the style; the ornate decoration of Over the Rainbow from guitar and violin and the mesmerising “sheets of sound” treatment of Bernie’s Tune with a gradual slowing to the end like an express train coming to a graceful halt after a fast journey, exemplify the versatility of this band.
Even Rhythm and Blues gets a nod by way of Route 66, Ben supplying the lyrics complete with scat singing and Steve reliving the rockabilly days whilst Richard disappeared to replace a string – did it break or just melt in the heat of the last number!
The amazing technical skills of each musician continued to enhance everything that was played; from the charming A Nightingale Sang........... with nightingale like violin and authentic tweeting from John to an almost classical counterpoint rendering from violin and guitar over the charismatic chord sequence of Autumn Leaves.
The authentic manouche sounds of Charles Aznavour’s I Give You Love contrasted with Richard’s electric jazz guitar tone for his solo How Deep is the Ocean – someone whispered “Wes Montgomery”.
The night finished with Tiger Rag in true Hot Club style but perhaps the lasting image of the session was the frantic version of Hungaria with breakneck rhythm from Steve and John, Ben with eyes screwed shut, violin pointing almost vertically and legs doing a sort of Riverdance whilst Richard scattered red hot phrases over the whole lot.
A terrific night of jazz from four guys who don’t let their virtuosity get in the way of their feelings.
PS: John - take no notice of Graham, you’re much better looking than Mr. Pastry!
Peter Farrall
