Live Review: Pete Long and his Good Men at Cadogan Hall, London

When ‘Don’t Be That Way’ was stomped off on a swinging night at Cadogan Hall, London the audience was instantly transported back to that historic concert at Carnegie Hall, New York City on 16 January, 1938.

A date emblazoned in history, when jazz was first presented on a concert stage, Benny Goodman’s Orchestra was the main attraction along with a host of guest star soloists courtesy of Duke Ellington and Count Basie.

Clarinettist and band leader Pete Long has been a lifelong fan of the Carnegie Hall double live album from that night, first released in 1950. And it was his ambition, along with drummer and organiser Richard Pite to recreate the dynamic performances long hailed as a highlight of the Swing Era.

The result was a whirlwind of arrangements and tunes by Fletcher Henderson, Jimmy Mundy and Edgar Sampson performed by a dedicated team of fine musicians who impressed many of the American swing fans in the audience.

Richard Pite made an instant impression when he burst into the famous drum break Gene Krupa deployed during ‘Don’t Be That Way’ to break the ice at Carnegie Hall, while the wondrous trumpet soloist Ryan Quidley let rip during an exciting ‘Life Goes To A Party’. ‘One O’Clock Jump’ and ‘Blue Skies’ with the flutter tongued trumpet intro were interspersed with BG trio and quartet tunes including ‘I Got Rhythm’ with Anthony Kerr on Lionel Hampton-inspired vibes.

The highlights? A tearaway ‘Swing Time In The Rockies,’ ‘Loch Lomond’ and ‘Bei Mir Bist Du Schon’ sung by Louise Cookman and ‘Sing, Sing Sing’ the ultimate tom- tom fuelled rhapsody.

But a superb rendition of ‘Blue Reverie’ a lá Johnny Hodges by Alyson Cawley on her curved soprano sax provided truly magical moments while Pete Long tearing through ‘Dizzy Spells’ was spellbinding!