"It's a man's world, but it ain't nothing without women in
it!"
Earlier this month, the male-dominated jazz industry celebrated
the outstanding contribution of female musicians by highlighting
and promoting their talents at a special night at the Hideaway, as
part of the annual London Jazz Festival. The line-up for Saturday
10 November 2012 was masterminded by the equal jazz genius of
Andrea Vicari and Janette Mason, sharing the role of musical
directors, piano and keys. They treated us to a musical confetti of
arrangements, fine-tuned to satisfy the appetites of the most
discerning jazz connoisseur and the lay ear.
I often find that the saxophone is the diva of the brass, it
demands our attention, and on this night the puffed-out cheeks of
Yolanda Brown proved the point. The appreciative crowd, most
notably on the number Urban Chant, applauded her symbiotic
relationship with her instrument. Working tirelessly and largely
out of sight was the darling of the drums, Sophie Alloway, who made
an impression early on in the opening number, New York Cab Ride,
composed by Janette Mason, which also featured the understated but
talented Laura Jurd, on trumpet. Other notable solos came from
Annie Whitehead on trombone and Julie Walkington on bass, getting
their chance to flex their musical muscle during Sleeping Bee and
You don't Know What Love Is, respectively. On vocals was the
world-class talent Natalie Williams. With a voice of crystal
clarity, her generosity as a performer complemented her all-female
band and completed this first-class line up!
If you haven't visited the Hideaway in Streatham, I implore you
to explore. If you like your music live, your food fresh, your
coffee frothy and your service friendly, it's the place to be. The
ambiance has been creatively crafted to induce you to unwind and
make full use of your leisure time. One of London's hidden gems,
it's the reason to press "record" on your TV and support live
entertainment! Easily accessible, close to Streatham rail station
and a host of bus services, it even boasts parking facilities.
www.hideawaylive.co.uk
