The latest Fourcroft Jazz Brunch featuring Cafe Jazz was another toe-tapping success and a delight for the ears. Consisting of Ron King (trumpet, clappers and harmonica), Jeff Matthews (clarinet and sax), Pete Locke (trombone), Peter Berry (string bass) and Jazz Brunch favourite Tudor Thomas (banjo and guitar), these boys have been around the block a few times and were happy to take everyone with them.

Their music is described as Dixieland style and on many occasions it was easy to imagine yourself walking down a street in New Orleans strutting your stuff behind a full marching band. They also had a few surprises up their sleeve.

It is not often that a band has three separate vocalists amongst them. Pete, Tudor and Ron all did their bit. It added a lot of variety to the performance and they all went down well with the very enthusiastic ‘Brunchers.’

The numbers came thick and fast around 30 in total. They were all well-delivered and received, but some of the best were Sheik of Araby, Blue turning grey, Canal street blues, Just a closer walk with thee and has anybody seen my kitty. Much of their performance was delivered with a frenetic tempo many people associate with pure jazz. It was inspiring, exciting and difficult to keep from tapping your toes on the floor or your hands on the table. Occasionally, when they slowed things right down, I found it fascinating. When they played some of their more soulful numbers such as Honeysuckle rose and Just a walk with thee, as I looked around the room, people (myself included) were starting to nod off. This was by no means an insult to them, far from it. The music they were producing between them was so pure and relaxing it took the audience to a different and very nice place. Have no fear, those moments of blissful relaxation were soon interrupted by a following number that hit them like a bugle call. You never knew what was coming next.

When Ron King took out his harmonica, I was struggling to remember when I last heard one played at a Jazz Brunch. As he started playing, I realised it was on his last visit. With the full backing of the rest of the band, he produced another stunning and mesmerising version of his Engineers. Their best number by far.

Their three hour session absolutely flew by and they weren’t getting away without an encore either. They left the ‘full house’ audience of brunchers, happy, smiling and still clapping with the feel good sounds of ‘When the Saints go marching in’ ringing in their ears.

Once again, another excellent live music performance in the very heart of Tenby gaining a Jock’s rating of eight. Thanks as always to Chris, Kath and the team at the Fourcroft for making it happen.

Allan Morris