Newbury’s Bacon Arms has its own Boogie

Pete Allen Jazz Band, at the Bacon Arms, Newbury, on Sunday, August 6. Review by DEREK ANSELL

The Allen band, an ensemble that changes venue as often as Pete changes instruments, turned up at the Bacon Arms on Sunday afternoon. This proved to be an ideal location as the long, well laid out room, seemed very much like a jazz club space.

Pete Allen was there with his clarinet, soprano sax, baritone and vocals but he left his banjo at home on this occasion. They began with two traditional jazz selections, one by Duke Ellington and then left the stage to pianist James Clemas, who concocted the Bacon Arms Boogie and played it with great enthusiasm. Pete paid homage to traditional jazz greats, Sidney Bechet and Louis Armstrong first with Petite Fleur on soprano sax and later with a good imitation of the Louis Armstrong gravelly voice.

Guest vocalist Shireen Francis stepped up next to sing a few popular standards thereby taking the band out of their New Orleans comfort zone towards mainstream jazz. No problem though, as this band can and does handle mainstream jazz very well. Shireen sang with confidence delivering an almost aggressive tone and using short, telling phrases. She was particularly effective ‘On The street Where You Live,’ and ‘Misty.’ She could sing in jazz mode and added a little scat singing for good measure during one of her two appearances.

In the second half of this recital James Clemas was again well featured as pianist and this time vocalist on ‘Do You Mind,’ a song associated with Anthony Newley. Shireen returned to sing about old black magic and take us along Route 66.

There were also, of course, traditional jazz performances where the impressive solo skills of trombonist Roger Marks and trumpeter Chris Hodgkins were heard to advantage. Pete played baritone saxophone on two selections, an instrument he is particularly skilled on. Dave Hanratty, bass guitar, and Jim Newton, drums, kept the rhythm bubbling all afternoon.

The programme overall was reflected in one of Shireen’s selections, ‘What A Difference A Day Made.’ It was back to the future at the end though with the usual ‘When The Saints Go Marching In.’