Robert Carr Review: Chris Ingham Trio in sell-out show at reopening of Felixstowe arts centre

By Derek Davis

12th Jun 2021 | Local News

Emerging from lockdown, the Two Sisters Arts Centre in Trimley St Mary, near Felixstowe, recently re-opened its doors with a sell-out performance by Suffolk-based jazz combo The Chris Ingham Trio - a show that was also live-streamed, and Robert Carr was there in person for Nub News.

The trio, comprising Chris Ingham (described by the Evening Standard as "One of Britain's best singer-pianists"), Joe Pettitt (bass) and George Double (drums), treated the enthusiastic audience to numbers by three of Chris's favourite performers.

They seamlessly interwove the works of Dudley Moore, Mose Allison and Hoagy Carmichael, which made it a fascinating insight into his likes and influences.

Dagenham's Dudley Moore had a highly successful career as an actor, comedian composer and musician, who first rose to prominence as a leading figure in the British satire boom of the 1960s.

Chris said: "Dudley was a brilliant musician, and his jazz is terrific, his compositions effortlessly appealing; but of course, they've been completely overlooked thanks to his more conspicuous achievements elsewhere. Addressing his output as a musician is just our way of trying to correct an historical wrong."

First up was the jaunty 'Dudley Dell', which became the theme tune for the long running BBC Radio 4 series Quote Unquote. Other numbers including: 'Poovinova' (featuring a surprising soprano counterpoint from George!); 'Cornfield', from the 1967 film Bedazzled, in which he starred with Peter Cook and Raquel Welch; and 'Song for Suzie', which he composed for his first wife (of many) Suzie Kendall.

A reminder about the work of the influential musician Mose Allison came from the sleeve notes on my 1964 album 'Mose Allison Sings'. It states that his early career was solely as a jazz pianist. Then, with influences ranging over blues, country, ballad standards and assorted jazz sub-genres, he developed his personal singing style.

Chris commented that he was drawn to Mose because he was a wry, wise blues/jazz singer songwriter whose songs still hit a chord with him: ironic and swinging, but prescient and pertinent. His obvious affection for the artiste and his singing style - low-key, laid-back and 'homey' – was reflected in the similarity of his delivery of the songs to the originals. 'I Don't Worry About a Thing', 'Everybody Cryin' Mercy', 'Foolkiller' and 'Parchman Farm' were sung in his trademark relaxed, but knowing, manner.

Of Hoagy Carmichael, Chris explained that he always thought that he was the relative underdog in the canon of the great American Songbook heroes. For him, Hoagy wrote loads of lovely things that jazzmen, in particular, still enjoy playing. It is Chris's view that because Ella Fitzgerald never got round to celebrating his music, like she did for Gershwin, Berlin, Rodgers and others, he is not held in the same esteem – "Wrongly, in my view", he emphasised.

Listening to the Trio's take on 'The Old Music Master', 'Lazy Bones', 'Skylark', and their encore number, 'Georgia on My Mind', it was easy to agree with his opinion about this consummate composer. To confirm this, the famous Ray Charles recording of 'Georgia' has been named as one of the greatest songs of all time in a Rolling Stone magazine list.

I once had the thrill of seeing Ray perform this classic number – a great memory, but I would have loved to have seen Hoagy perform it, too.

Another composer who did actually make it into Ella's songbook was Cole Porter. So, for the one exception to the featured composers, the trio treated us to a collectively brilliant swinging rendition of 'Just One of Those Things': really nailing it in the process.

Hadleigh resident George first met Chris in 2010, when they joined up to work on a music project. Since then, they have started their own jazz clubs, and worked in clubs all over the country, including many gigs at the prestigious Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London's Soho.

Additionally, they have developed various themed shows, as well as recording several CDs. The May 16, edition of Nub News, published a 'Close Up' interview feature about George's musical life.

Completing the talented trio, bassist Joe Pettitt cut a fine rhythm throughout the set. He is a music graduate and school music teacher; and could be said to be living the best of all worlds, as he is not only a regular in the trio, but also a big band leader.

Organised by Suzanne Hawkes, the gig also marked the re-commencement of the regular Friday Night Jazz shows which are held on the first Fridays of each month. In addition to jazz, the centre also promotes a wide range of visual and performing arts events.

For more information, log on to their website here... The box office number is 01394 279613, and online it is www.ticketsource.co.uk/two-sisters-arts-centre

     

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