CityLife

This was a show split in 2 with the first part being somewhat self-indulgent and occasionally audially awful. Many times the drummer drowned out the other players and at times the ensemble could not make their minds up to be a jazz band or go for the Big Band sound. One excruciating section was when Mr Legrand got the band to wind up from the low growl to the high notes.<br /> <br /> Especially awful was the theme from Pieces of Dreams which I heard others commenting about during the interval. I now understand what losing the will to live must be like.<br /> <br /> The Michel Legrand/Miles Davis piece from Dingo started to make up for what had gone before but the best of the first half was the sublime Harp playing of Catherine Michel which proved once and for all that this instrument can do jazz !<br /> <br /> In the second half the be-bop was great and when she came on Alison Moyet improved things tremendously<br /> <br /> Overall this was a curates egg of a concert with some memorably good sections but more parts that failed.<br />