Liverpool Reporter JAZZ NIGHT @ Casablanca,
Southport
Report by John
Angel & photo by Patrick Trollope
THIS was an evening of considerably good entertainment at the Casablanca, in Southport. When I arrived in the room off the bar there was a small audience listening to a very good and talented singer, Wendy Chalke. She recently won a singing competition in Southport and was a semi finalist in the Fame Search for a Star 2004. She entertained the audience with popular and pop jazz style songs in a most professional way. If she pursues singing she should go far. The audience asked for more several times and Wendy responded to their requests.
She was followed by the Dan Forshaw Quartet. Now I was expecting a four piece band, but we received a five-piece band with a soloist! This band plays modern jazz and consisted of an excellent drummer; a bass guitarist; and a guitarist; a trumpeter; and the leader who played tenor and bass sax, flute and clarinet. The guitarists are from Skelmersdale. Some of the solo playing was very talented and on the whole it was a good night out for lovers of modern jazz. The vocals were well rendered although at times in the first half the diction was questionable, perhaps the mike was at fault. However she really showed how good she is in the second half with excellent controlled expression and clear diction. Each half was well mixed, but it was difficult to tell where one tune ended and the next began as there were virtually no pauses. It was a shame that so few came to listen to them for it was an evening well spent with skilful musicians.
We look forward to hearing DFQ again at the Southport Jazz Festival later this summer at the
Jazz Festival in the Arts Center.
If you missed them, then tune in to our radio station on
www.liverpoolreporter.com
and hear them, as well as lots of other bands. Also photographs of the
DFQ night will be added very soon.
