John Hallam - a magical, musical tour

Sunday's crowd ( and it was one, we're pleased to say) got a musical tour of the great and good of jazz from the brilliant John Hallam. Before the first half was done, we'd heard Ellington, Basie, Goodman, and Gerry Mulligan, to name but four. John was in great form, switching with ease from clarinet to tenor to baritone and providing a variety of tone, mood and rhythm that made it easy to forget he was fronting the session alone. His choice of numbers took us through many a tune we've not heard for ages and made you realise how much you missed them. All in all a terrific night of good value.

The rhythm section of Roger Heeley, Roy Dutton and Len Thwaites provided John with sensitive backing throughout, and there was some cracking solo work from them too. It was good to see Roy back after his indisposition with a problem we old chaps don't like to mention, but suffice it to say that we were enruptured with his playing and we truss he's fully recovered now. Certainly sounded like it.

We gather Roger and Roy will again be backing John Hallam at Keswick and Bude this year, so there's much to look forward to if you're visiting those festivals.