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Review by Paul Nelson |
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THERE is surely no more civilised a way to spend a Sunday afternoon than
with a cool pint of beer and a hot jazz band.
What I am telling you about is not some kro in Copenhagen, bierhaus in Hamburg,
boite in Paris, or even jazz dive in New York or Chicago. I am telling you
about the Halfmoon pub in Putney which every Sunday afternoon
is host to the mellow sounds of Dick Laurie's Elastic Band.
As the name might suggest the band is capable of stretching and shrinking,
though it never contracts to less than five members. In the past I have seen
it stretch to more than ten members as professional musicians tend to casually
drop in with their instruments and step up on to the platform to join the
nucleus that is essentially The Elastix.
For the faithful there is no need for introductions, but for the novice who
loves his jazz both red hot and blue and doesn't know where to find it, the
band consists of clarinettist Laurie himself, the conductor, who with the
odd wave of a hand signals the soloists to take charge. Plus, and here is
a big plus, Ken Reece trumpet, George Oag guitar, Clive Bracy double bass
and Mick Durell drums, complete the basic organism.
Ken Reece for example, surprises you by playing an unfamiliar verse solo just
to tantalise, then swings out into a tune which is familiar to all. How many
of you can hum the verse to Sunny Side of the Street for example? With this
ruse he keeps the audience not only entertained but on its feet, and the enjoyment
of the afternoon is extremely enhanced.
Along with the cognoscenti of Putney I have been to hear this band more times
than I can remember and never tire of it. As each set is completely different
I can only pick from the programme for the last time I went to give an idea
of what to expect.
Dick Laurie's Elastic Band is not a traditional jazz band (whatever that may
mean) but is a constantly evolving entity which employs all kinds of music,
each piece handled tenderly and served up in possibly a surprising way.
Alice Blue Gown for example was given a jaunty tempo which was as surprising
as it was satisfactory. Thrown into the middle of the first spasm, as Dick
likes to call the sections of the gig, was a crazy Latin American song, little
heard these days, Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps. Even more jaw-dropping was the
running together of two Gershwin songs, Summertime and I'm Biding My Time.
For those in search of the more esoteric I would suggest Sherry, Tour de Force
and Between the Devil and the Deep. For traditionalists But Not For Me (again
with verse from Reece), Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall, Autumn Leaves,
I Got Rhythm and Isn't it a Lovely Day to be Caught in the Rain.
From the sad and soulful to all out wild jazz, the Elastic Band fills the
bill. There is also a fair sprinkling of comedy as members of the band either
tease their fans in the audience or each other on the platform. The jokes
are all impromptu and never stale.
The Halfmoon deserves a mention. Sunday lunches are served at your table from
1pm to 4pm and it is a Young's pub so that speaks for the quality of the ale.
The staff never seem to tire and I expect Sunday afternoon is quite a change
for them from the rest of the evenings of the week when the venue hosts very
modern up-to-date groups, many of them brilliant cover bands. For information
on those, check out the Halfmoon by clicking here.
However, Sundays, as I have said, can never quite be bettered than doing as
little as possible except eat, drink and listen. It is Nirvana.
There is a CD available for £10 called Ooh! That Kiss! Which contains Tangerine and Peel Me A Grape in the fruit and veg department, Somebody Loves Me, I Can't Believe That Your in Love With Me and Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me in the love department, and Ooh! That Kiss! and St Thomas for the wild jazz department. The recording also has the talents of Al Nicholls on saxophone, John Day double bass, Don Cook drums and features the magnificent voice of Melissa James. They are available from Dick himself at the Halfmoon any Sunday afternoon or via alasdick@elastic.fsnet.co.uk
Dick Laurie's Elastic Band. The Halfmoon, Lower Richmond Road, Putney. Jazz from 2pm to 5pm FREE. All drinks at pub prices.