FOR their third show at The Hub, the Smile ensemble added some special festive music to their usual set of jazz, blues and funk favourites.
With singer Louis Conner, guitarist Tom Morgan, bassist and backing singer Tom Hill, drummer Carl Hemmingsley and keyboard player Matt Ratcliffe, they played a well thought out set of songs by the likes of Nat King Cole, Gregory Porter, Ben E King, Paul McCartney and many others in arrangements that took some liberties with styles and playing.
They started proceedings with a swinging Stomping at the Savoy, with some fluent guitar and keyboard solos, before Let There Be Love was ably delivered – and Blue Moon was introduced with a filigree, delicate guitar figure.
Nat King Cole’s An Orange Coloured Sky and Fly Me To The Moon all featured some good soloing and fine vocals. A swing version of Sleigh Ride closed the first half of the concert.
The second part featured a wider range of music, with wah wah guitar during Papa Was A Rolling Stone which featured some spirited dancing from some member of the audience.
Paul McCartney’s often quietly sung Blackbird was delivered here as an upbeat soul song, with the tempo reduced for Nat King’s famous The Christmas Song (Chestnut’s Roasting on an Open Fire).
Charlie Chaplin’s sad and reflective ballad, Smile, closed the concert, before a sing along encore of Ben E King’s Stand by Me.
This ensemble can always be relied upon to deliver both a musical and entertaining evening.
