Review: Providence grant us the joy of more concerts like this

by Michael Foster

PROVIDENCE grant us the joy of more concerts like this. The Singing Waiters finish a Queanbeyan School of Arts Cafe season on Sunday. They are part of a flourish of jazz-oriented entertainment at the cafe.

Photo: Robert Roach

The Waiters are a male a cappella group drawn from Gery Scott’s Vocal Jazz Ensemble of the Canberra School of Music’s Jazz Studies Course. They are Nick Begbie, Andrew Bisset, Tony Magee, Dean Salonga, Craig Schneider, Greg Stott and Chris Woods.

Scott herself is singing Particularly Porter for six nights tonight, tomorrow and Saturday (February 20, 21, 22) and next week, February 27, 28 and 29. Tony Magee is to accompany Scott on keyboards.

Another very good Canberra talent, Linda Hansen has sung Empress of the Blues, “an evocation of the life and career of … Bessie Smith”, backed by the piano of Erol Richardson and bass of Roger Morelli.

Hansen’s background as a band, including rock, singer of covers and originals has led to jazz and blues. Belief that these better suited her voice and a fascination with The Empress inspired the show.

It is directed by Bill Stephens, costumed by Mark Glaser against a backdrop by Rose-May Swann with makeup by Lorraine Francis.

From The Canberra Times, Feb 20 1992