Tony Jacobs Swing Jazz Cabaret, Regent Centre, Christchurch (From Dorset Echo)

Tony Jacobs Swing Jazz Cabaret, Regent Centre, Christchurch

5:52pm Monday 21st June 2010 in Music Reviews By Ray O'Luby

IT’S not just the memories, it’s the quality. That’s what Tony Jacobs believes keeps the music of the great American swing composers from Irving Berlin onwards alive, and with a high spirited tribute show like this who could disagree?

True, the audience should have been bigger, but that obviously didn’t affect Jacobs’ enthusiasm. With his strikingly strong voice, his flamboyant Harry James-style trumpet playing, and winning stage personality, backed by his highly polished five-piece band, this was a fellow devotees’ treat.

The show opened with Alexander’s Ragtime Band, and other numbers in the main programme from the Russian-born songwriter’s exhaustive output included several made famous by Fred Astaire – Top Hat, Cheek To Cheek, and with a chandelier-shattering drum solo from Steve Vintner, Putting On The Ritz.

There was a brilliant boogie version of Gordon and Warren’s Chattanooga Choo Choo, and among the reminders of Cole Porter’s genius was an enchanting piano rendition of In The Still Of The Night. Attractively husky-voiced Catherine Sykes celebrated the Gershwins with Someone To Watch Over Me, and They’re Writing Songs Of Love.

For an encore it was back to Berlin again and the company signing off, one by one, to Stepping Out With My Baby from Easter Parade.