jay phelps quintet

I saw these guys perform at The Bonington Theatre on 3 Feb 2011. Here's the lineup; a bit different from that advertised.

Leader and trumpet: Jay Phelps

Piano: Jonathan Gee

Tenor Sax: Shabaka Hutchings

Drums: Ernesto Simpson

Bass: Neil Charles

Guest vocals: Kwabena Adjepong

The singer only performed one number in the first set and was on stage again at the oncore with a brilliant skat improvisation. Adjepong is a 22 year old UK resident with Ghanian parents. He is a slightly built and diffident almost shadowy character but once he gets the mike into his hand he is transformed into an accomplished jazz singer with a powerful voice and a commanding stage presence.

The dynamic leader David Phelps is a great showman and trumpet player. He was very engaged with his audience and expressed his particular fondness for the Bonington venue and audience. I couldn't help reflecting on what he might tell audiences at other venues. Anyway, his performance was dynamic and enthusiastic and featured several of his own compositions. Shabaka Hutchings on tenor sax, usually alongside accompanying or 'bouncing off' Phelps, was master of his instrument playing in the cool dude manner. Both drummer and bass player did a great job driving the rhythms forward and also added variety with a number of solo improvisations.

The quintet was completed by the brilliant jazz pianist Jonathan Gee. JG attacked his instrument with glee and gusto. He kept nearly falling off his stool and occasional stood to add an essential direct plucking of a piano string to expand his repertoire. The encore figuratively and almost literally brought the house down. Anybody out there thinking of taking a holiday in downtown Arnold should check out the scene at Bonington theatre.