Jamie Brownfield & Liam Byrne

Smalls at The Verdict

Thursday 13th April

    Beginning with Hackensack (a tune based on Lady Be Good) it was obvious that trumpeter Brownfield and tenor saxophonist Byrne have a fantastic musical chemistry.

    Vocalist Imogen Ryall paid tribute to Billie Holiday performing Mean to Me and a memorable version of The Way You Look Tonight, followed by an instrumental version of Ellington’s It Don’t Mean a Thing.

    After the interval, Brownfield & Byrne performed a beautiful duet of I’ve Found A New Baby which highlighted both their chemistry and their virtuosity.

    But the highlight of the evening was an extraordinarily beautiful vocal rendition of A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square by vocalist Imogen Ryall. 

Jamie Brownfield, trumpet; Liam Byrne, tenor sax; Jonathan Vinten, piano; Steve Thompson, double bass; Piers Clark, rhythm guitar; guest vocalist Imogen Ryall.

Review by Charlie Anderson

Photo by Lisa Wormsley