May 20, Liverpool Reporter Jazz Night 2 @ Casablanca, Pleasureland

Report by David Hunter & photos by Patrick Trollope.

JAZZ is a medium that is best appreciated in comfortably intimate and relaxing surroundings that allow the audience to immerse themselves in the experience. Few local venues can offer these surroundings better than the Casablanca where the spacious, well appointed and comfortable entertainment area is so well suited.

The headline band for last night's (Thursday) Jazz Evening was Jazz Classique who brought a wealth of musical experience; they are well known in the Southport area for playing mainstream jazz and blues, in style of Benny Goodman, Stan Getz, Charlie Byrd etc. Jazz Classique is a quartet based in the North-West and specialise in melodic and relaxing jazz. The audience were entertained to a wide and varied repertoire with the band living up to their declared specialism. Opening with the Thelonious Monk classic 'Blue Bolivar Blues', the quartet, Alan Bartley (guitar), John Padfield (Alto Sax, Soprano Sax and Clarinet), Gary Robinson (drums) and Dave Gartside (double bass) proceeded to tickle the auditory senses of the small, but enthusiastic audience. Particularly noteworthy were the haunting sounds of the saxophone in the rendition of Autumn Leaves and the interesting mellow blend of the band. The band played two sets and included many classic favourites such as Georgia, Don't Get Around Much Anymore, Lullaby of Broadway and Sweet Georgia Brown. Jazz Classique was more than ably accompanied with the powerful vocals of Evette Cooper who added a well received dynamism to the band.

Between the two sets played by Jazz Classique, the audience were most fortunate to be treated to the unbelievably sweet, powerful and note-perfect voice of Jenny O'Connor. Jenny, a trained opera singer who hales from Aintree, performed with passion and was most enthusiastically received. 'I Will Always Love You' proved the perfect vehicle to demonstrate the range and power of Jenny's delightful voice. Her set included 'Songbird', 'Summertime', 'The Opera Song' and others, all delivered sympathetically and a joy for the audience. Jenny, who loves singing anything from opera to jazz, is currently performing all around the Liverpool area together with her friend, Sue Marshall. Jenny says that her ambition is to find a country that will sponsor her to enter the Eurovision Song Contest next year.

You can hear this band and others on our radio station Liverpool Reporter.