Gai Paris

C'est vrai!  Paris is strong on jazz and, as I understand, also on earlier jazz styles and we have our own authentic Canberra-cum-Australia reps in the midst of that scene.  This weekend they were home to visit family and we caught them at Smiths, upstairs, in McGregor Hall.  Leigh Barker is the leader and also the Canberra person but now in Paris with Heather; otherwise Melbourne, the Coast, another Canberran and Latvia.  Latvia?  Well pianist Max Teakle was genuine Latvian on tour and he recognised local sit-in Valdis Thomann for his Latvian roots.  Paris can also be quite mixed and bohemian.  Whatever, this was hugely fun, inviting, joyous music.  Leigh leading with his gut strung bass; Heather with the most apt voice for this style and a good bit of playful pleasure and, to boot, violin.  Eamon just the part with an Elvis lick and overall presence and wonderful trumpet and Valdis hugely impressive as the trom offsider so comfy he seemingly had had a life lived in this very band.  And not least, Mark down the back setting and syncopating the tempo.  Just lovely.  Often slow, always rock solid steady, sometimes toungue-in-cheek implications, through a string of standards of Ellington and Frankie Valli and Billie Holliday and June Carter Cash and plenty of originals from Leigh and perhaps others.  All from their album that Leigh was indulgently spruiking on the night, Cross Street, in all formats (although only 7 vinyls available on the night).  Just great fun and great entertainment from a very professional outfit playing the era.

Leigh Barker (bass) led his band with Heather Stewart (vocals, violin), Eamon McNelis (trumpet), Valdis Thomann (trombone), Max Teakle (piano) and Mark Sutton (drums) at McGregor Hall, upstairs at Smiths Alternative.