LIVE: DIRTY JAZZ COCKTAIL HOUR at Fringe World – 22 Feb, 2018

Shane | 26 February 2018 | Reply

LIVE: DIRTY JAZZ COCKTAIL HOUR at Fringe World – 22 Feb, 2018

Ellington’s Jazz Club; Thursday, 22 February, 2018
Reviewed by Maree King

Jesse Gordon’s charismatic and flawless performance combined jazz, a hint of blues, and a charming and at times raucous social commentary that gave a glimpse back to a time when drinking was in the throes of prohibition, society was recovering from a its first world war and people were enjoying the lustful and delicious new wave of jazz and blues.

Gordon looked exquisite in a fitted dress and pin-curl wavy flapper-style hair that added to the air of being transported to a dark, dingy jazz club on the back streets of New Orleans instead of our dark little corner of Ellingtons Jazz Bar. Chris Foster on piano was dressed in a beautiful tux, which matched Gordon’s elegance and a time when musicians were dressed to the nines. It’s a fitting and refreshing change from the modern casual, almost dirty, style of today.

Gordon peppered commentary between each song, with a quick explanation about its origin and or meaning, along with her own modern and sometimes feminist twist. She gave us an insight to what inspires her as a performer and the show itself. She covered some of the biggest names and blues and jazz from B.B. King to Nina Simone and what seemed to be either mashed up old tunes or some original ditties.

Much of the commentary and humourous quips, along with the song list, focused on the theme of alcohol – the illegal underground activities that went on in the era of prohibition, the social lubrication it provided, and the escapism that came along with the alcohol and music.

Gordon’s own ukelele seems a little out of place in a Dirty Jazz Cocktail hour but she pulled it off effortlessly and it seemed to lighten the dark sultry sounds of her voice. Foster at times chimed in with some unusual jazzy piano riffs and scats.

Gordon’s deep, sultry complex voice and ability to be sensual, yet humourous, demonstrates a high quality performer who was able to take the audience on her journey and make you feel like you had been transported to another time and place.