Reporter: Tony Sheldon
Date online: 12/06/2008

A feature of the Roy Potts ensemble is the integral guitar work of Dave Alexander in tandem with Potts’ powerful trumpet. If only Roy ‘in the words of Shakespeare’ – ‘me thinks he talks too much’ would cut down the intro’s and let the fine musical arrangements ‘do the talking’.

I say ‘arrangements’ but Potts claims the band play the tunes ‘off the cuff’. The front line completed by reedsman Dave Burke and Merseysippi trombonist Pete Fryer know how to attack the tunes ably backed by Alexander (when not fronting) Tim Kitchener on bass and Chris Wright with nodding head drums, though somewhat subdued this time.

Potts opened up by vocalising with “Alabama Jubilee” followed by “See See Rider” with Alexander’s bluesy guitar solo. “Aint She Sweet” in a modern presentation with guitar intro Potts’ vocal and bass solo and overall great sound. Before Wrights Gruff voice produced a mainstream “Is You Is or Is You Aint My Baby” featuring Burke’s solo baritone sax. Fryer’s trombone took us to the break leading with “Riverside Blues”.

The big band sound of “Take the ‘A’ Train” with rhythmic back ground for baritone sax, muted trumpet and trombone set the music back in motion with varied interesting second set. Potts vocalises with “There’ll Be Some Chances Made” with nice guitar interlude.

A slow clarinet and muted trombone backed the Potts vocal of “Old Brocken Chair” whilst trombone nuances and guitar rhythm backing blended with the flying clarinet of Burke in “China Boy” before fryer took the obvious lead in “Ory’s Creole Trombone” – The Kid Ory Favourite.

The vocals of Potts with “Red River Valley”, and “Give Me a Big Butter and Egg Man” with brass powerful input gave way to another Wright vocal in Filington’s “Lucky So and So”.

Yet another request for “St James’s Infirmary Blues” brought Potts voice back into play, and the plaintive sounds of clarinet and muted trombone, before playing out with a nice blend of soft tones to Potts vocal in “Grey Turning Blue Over You”.

A fine balanced selection, but Roy less chat please!

May 2008