Herbie Flowers’ Jazz Breakfast
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Brighton Dome, September 17
“Are the trains running today?” Herbie Flowers plaintively asked the audience in the three-quarters full Dome before leading his five-piece ensemble into a relaxed version of Take The A-Train.
Flowers has a long face, the veteran bass player’s stoop and a genial manner.
He likes to fill the space between the jazz standards with mildly salty anecdotes.
His bass style has a precision that sounds simple but is the result of many years playing sessions on innumerable recordings.
Unflashy, driving, and resilient, he played under and through the group covering, among others, Autumn Leaves, Summertime and My Funny Valentine.
The standout number was Body and Soul showcasing the sax player Stan Saltzman, a rustic figure who wouldn’t look out of place wearing a butcher’s apron at your local supermarket.
His sax playing, however, was truly remarkable – an irresistible tone, breathless arpeggios and a gorgeous vibrato.
John Keenan
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