This year's Fourcroft Jazz Brunch sessions kicked-off Sunday, January 20, with a very lively performance of top draw Gypsie Jazz by Hot Club Gallois.

Consisting of Wayne Warlow on upright bass, Richard Jones and Luke Archard on guitars and Heulwen Thomas on electric violin.

Hot Club Gallois are yet another class outfit to grace the stage at the Fourcroft they have certainly set the 2013 Jazz Brunch bar at a very high level for future performers to follow.

There is a definite clue in the bands title that their music has a French (or more particular a Parisian) theme. They are not wrong. From the moment they strike their first chord, you can almost feel the breeze from passing boats you sail down the seine. Better still, close your eyes and you can also smell the incredible aromas from the Parisian cafes (or is it from the Fourcroft kitchen).

In two-and-a-half hours they tore through over 20 numbers doing each one full justice. The pace of their music varied between brisk to absolutely frantic.

At times, the very competent guitarists Richard Jones and Luke Archard hands were a just a blur as their left feet and knees bobbed up and down in time like flat out sewing machine needles. The sound they produced was superb, as was their teamwork. They each switched from lead to rhythm with ease before they combined in perfect harmony with the incredible sounds produced by Heulwen Thomas on her electric guitar.

Heulwen was the 'frontman' of the band, introducing each number with humour before leading the others into the tempo. The electric guitar is one of the rarer instruments heard at the Fourcroft.

In fact, regulars could only remember two previous occasions, both were very good but without a shadow of a doubt Heulwen's performance was better. She played with infectious enthusiasm and was a joy to listen to. Like the guitarists at times, the pace of her arm movements as she struck her bow across the violin was as incredible to watch as it was to hear. Tired or not, it didn't show. It was obvious she was enjoying herself as much as the audience.

The ever-smiling Wayne Warlow on upright bass is another of those talented musicians who turn up at the Fourcroft as the backbone of many different bands.

Bass players in general do not go in for the frantic stuff, they tend to be the plodders who go about their task in their own way and in their own time. Nobody does this better than Wayne Warlow. While the others are working themselves into an absolute musical frenzy, Wayne's contribution can clearly be heard in the background keeping it all together.

Gypsy swing is not always to everybodies taste because it can be a bit repetitive. In fairness, Hot Club Gallois went out of their way to put their own spin on many of the old standards. All of their numbers were well delivered. Some of their very best included Belvin, I Found a New Baby, Putting on the Ritz and Dark House Blues,

Their versions of Summertime and Caravan in particular were superb.

All in all, an excellent start to a new year of Jazz Brunches and a hard act to follow. Jocks rating 9/10. Once again, a huge thank you to Chris Osborne and the staff at the Fourcroft for keeping music live and thriving in Tenby.

Allan Morris