Phonology

    It was surprising that no-one started singing "Where Did you Get That Hat" when George Melly took the stage. It is Glasgow after all. Swagger and style in such an obviously elderly gent is a marvellous sight to behold, and Mr Melly has it in bucketloads. Oh yes. This reknowned jazz and blues singer, raconteur, art critic and writer really is a living legend. In his trademark garish striped suit, Melly takes a seat, removes his tiger striped cowboy hat and sings the blues. Booming and bassy, full of character (just like that white and red striped suit) his rendition of Old Rocking Chair really is the blues. He alludes to his wild heyday with a couple of mildly risque jokes, his fruity bass-baritone speaking voice every bit as unique as his taste in hats. The band, led by Digby Fairweather are a motley crew all very obviously having a whale of a time. Fairweather skips and hops about the stage directing the band like a hyperactive child at a wedding. He even manages to play his trumpet with a huge grin on his face. Melly tiptoes his way through some old vaudeville jazz numbers and rounds off his set with a rendition of the old favourite Sweet Georgia Brown, complete with comedy hand gestures.

    The Big Chris Barber Band are a force to be reckoned with. Trombonist and band leader Barber and trumpeter Pat Halcox have been working together continuously for 50 years. And they still look like they're having the time of their lives. An eleven piece band of multi-instrumentalists, they specialise in Old Time New Orleans style Jazz, bringing a big band flavour with that great big wall of horns. However, there's more to them than initially meets the ear. Trombonist and arranger, Bob Hunt does a marvellous job reworking Duke Ellington's Black and Tan Fantasy into a magical mystery tour. Tony Carter on flute leads a small section of the band in a breathtaking rendition of Miles Davis' All Blues. The stand out track of the evening though is an improv duet between the bassist Vic Pitt and drummer Colin Miller, utilising every percussive surface on the stage, and a whole lot of laughs. The whole band reunite, ditch the amplification and blast the audience with everyone's favourite Dixieland number, Oh When The Saints! Lets hope the Saints keep their distance for a little longer.