THE multi-talented local musician Nick Dewhurst led his well drilled and talented ensemble through an evening of festive favourites with a jazz flavour at The Hub at St Mary’s.
The trumpeter and guitarist was joined by Beth Fisher Dewhurst on alto saxophone, Sam Craig on tenor saxophone, double bass player Tom Moore, drummer Tash Buxton and pianist Tom Lindsay for two sets that mixed carols and Christmas songs.
They started with a swinging promenade version of Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, with the brass and woodwind sections walking through the audience to take their places on the stage.
Other songs included Santa Claus is Coming to Town and Rocking Around the Christmas Tree, with jazz guitar skirting around the melodies of the saxes.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas was delivered as a slow and delicate ballad, while the modal jazz version of God Rest You Merry Gentlemen was a fitting closing number of the first half.
The second half featured a wider range of genres, with a version of In The Bleak Midwinter being a completely different beast to the one that Gustav Holst put to the words of Christine Rosetti.
Silver Bells skipped though a number of different time signature and I’ll Be Home for Christmas was a showcase for the burnished tone of the alto saxophone.
