THE return of pianist Ralph Sutton, this time accompanied by the fine cornet of Warren Vache attracted a big attendance to the John Field Room on Tuesday night of last week.
Organised by the Dublin Jazz Society, the concert, revealed Vache's fine control and Sutton's highly melodic soloing on such as Poor Butterfly, with the pianist's stride playing in evidence on Three Little Words. And Vache took the honours in a lovely reading of Lover, Come Back To Me, with lyrical cornet supported by lovely harmonies from Sutton on What's New.
As on his previous visit, Sutton gave a fine solo performance of Echoes Of Spring he is at his best in this context. But When You're Smiling and Someday You'll Be Sorry the first having a lovely "four" feel in the opening choruses, thanks to Sutton's superb left hand were followed by a beautiful opening chorus from Vache on When It's Sleepy Time Down South, in a duo performance which was one of the highlights of the evening.
St Louis Blues led to an encore, China Boy, notable for brilliant articulation by Vache at a very fast tempo. But several other pieces, mainly mid tempo, tended to have a sameness to them and, personally, despite the quality of both musicians, the format was too restrictive to sustain a full concert in this idiom.
