Bossing the Boogaloo

Big Boss Man at the Flowing Spring Playhatch near Reading on Friday, July 7. Review by BRIAN HARRINGTON

ONE of the joys of a warm, dry summer evening is listening to some great live music at an open air gig. The infamously fickle British weather co-operated fully tonight and the performance by four-piece Big Boss Man, fronted by Newbury’s own Nasser Bouzida, was the perfect accompaniment.

A superbly judged setlist running to nearly two hours (plus an interval) drew on self-penned tracks from across the career of the band and featuring both vocal and instrumental numbers with an overall upbeat feel, which the audience loved.

The first set included The Hawk, a tribute to the prolific movie and TV theme composer, musician and briefly (1969-1970) member of The Shadows, Alan Hawkshaw, along with the band’s most downloaded track Sea Groove, the excellent Aardvark and many more before the eponymous Big Boss Man heralded the interval.

After the break, Big Boss Man returned with Reach Out, Project 6 and Crimson 6T’s and more highlights than you could shake a stick at which, by the time they reached Everybody Boogaloo and Humanize had the audience dancing on the lawn/dance area.

This was all about superb 60s inspired jazz/funk/soul played with real style, while Nasser Bouzida’s skill at moving seamlessly between keyboards, synth, bongos and percussion adds visual impact to the tight and powerful sound of the band.

Gigs in the garden at The Flowing Spring continue throughout July and August – may the weather continue to be kind to them

A truly excellent show.

Thoroughly enjoyable.