Nottingham Jazz Orchestra's festive offering at the Ukranian Federation Centre
Call me a Scrooge, but I've never been to a Christmas carol concert. Not that I can't see the appeal, but there’s just something a bit staid and pre-Victorian about the songs themselves (they’re no Wham! you have to admit). But add the timeless jazzy sound of a big band, and even the Grinchiest of souls can be turned. Lucky then, the Nottingham Jazz Orchestra were having their take on a Yuletide blowout at the Ukrainian Federation Centre, with their Xmas Jazz Fest – a Christmas concert with a big, showy shot of swing.
KaBen, otherwise known as singer Kat and guitarist Ben (both of whom you might recognise from Harleighblu’s band), got things off to a jazzy, soulful start, with a collection of Christmas’s greatest hits. Jingle Bells, Santa Baby, Winter Wonderland, that Band Aid song – even that reverential carol classic Silent Night got an unexpectedly sexy makeover from Kat’s sultry vocals.
Then it was the turn of the Nottingham Jazz Orchestra themselves to take to the stage in the Ukrainian, whose table-filled hall had been fully done out in Christmas decs, giving it a nicely festive and intimate club-style feel. They didn’t waste any time doling out the Christmas cheer, getting stuck straight in with a medley including Joy to the World, We Wish You a Merry Christmas and more. That was just a sneaky Christmas morning selection box though – the real feast came with show-stopping arrangements including Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, featuring pianist Matt Radcliffe’s cool, twinkly keys, and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, blisteringly led by the sax section. This is just what you want from a Christmas jazz gig – a big warming, accessible hug of an experience, like a Die Hard box set with a large brandy.
It wasn’t all Christmas songs, although bandleader Steve assured that everything did have a link back to the holidays. Big band standards from the Count Basie Band, like Sweet Georgia Brown and Blues Machine, went down a storm, and a few select vocal performances nicely peppered the evening too. NJO regular vocalist Mandy Tatton has that classic jazz voice that gave Too Close for Comfort and Indeed I Do a perfect breathy, jazz club vibe. Of course, it wouldn’t be a big band night without a bit of Ol’ Blue Eyes, and New Jersey-via-Leicestershire’s John Brennan stepped up to the plate to croon his way through Sinatra’s Witchcraft and Under My Skin, as well as Nat King Cole’s Christmas Song. “Not that old chestnut!” – pure class.
Bisecting the two halves of the show were Swing Gitan, the ‘Parisian gypsy jazz’ four piece. With a throbbing, driving double bass line, virtuoso trumpet and guitar finesse, they brought a nice bit of gallic-style cool to the mix.
If Nottingham Jazz Orchestra weren’t already, then they really went all out in the second half. O Holy Night, with a dazzling performance from lead trumpeter Russ Buckberry, was one of the highlights of the whole show, as was young James Hollis’s knotty, perfectly executed alto sax solo on a neat arrangement of Hey Jude. This is one seriously talented kid. Then what else could you really end on to send the crowds back into the dreary world outside but a big, brassy version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas? Perfect.
The NJO have been going for some 50 years, obviously with the lineup changing a little in that time, and they show no sign of letting up. It would be difficult to shout out each terrific performance, with the orchestra having about as many players on their books in the sax, trumpet, trombone and rhythm sections than the current Blackpool FC team, but all the experience and training is clearly evident in each. I fully expect to pop down the Ukrainian in another 50 years’ time for another evening of big band Christmas delights and a finger buffet. Forget the carols; this is a tradition we all need to get on board with.
Nottingham Jazz Orchestra played at the Ukrainian Federation Centre, Sunday 14th December. You can catch them there on the second Sunday of every month with their next show on Sunday 11 January 2015.
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