The Stage

JMA Showcase

Published Monday 16 November 2009 at 10:20 by Derek Smith

As good a venue to hold a showcase as any, with holidaymakers of all ages mixing with agents and bookers, all the acts billed at this year’s JMA show had to please a quite demanding, varied audience. Different agendas certainly, but both still clearly expectant.

Getting things off to a bright start is key on such evenings and certainly the inhouse Parkdean Troupers did that with a bright, bubbly interpretation of One Night Only, evidently a real favourite on the circuit at the moment. Also key is having a compere who’s confident and the audience warms to straight away, Noel Brodie showing he’s at least game to try something original with his opening skit on a Kaiser Chiefs tune, wearing a costume that added about a yard to his waist and singing I Predict a Diet. You can’t go far wrong opening a showcase with a Beatles tribute, even if, with the Two Beatles, half the Fab Four were missing. A few bookers and some audiences may feel a bit short-changed by this band’s line-up, but they look the part, sound good and cover all the tunes fans will demand.

Female vocalist Stephanie Coombes in de rigeur sparkly attire was almost hidden, at times, by an over enthusiastic dry ice machine, but sang with confidence and enthusiasm throughout. Top marks also for variety of song, everything from River Deep, Mountain High through to Nessun Dorma. With the latter, you need total faith in your own vocal abilities to tackle the opera classic, and for the most part, it was a decent enough rendition. It always seems better suited to male vocalists though.

Pitching the comedy so as to please most of this audience was always going to be tricky and straight away Jimmy Darch sensed, and admitted, that he was maybe coming on too early in the evening for his particular style of observational humour to be appreciated by adults who hadn’t had time to fully loosen up. He did hit the occasional comic bulls eye, his wry comments on holiday relationships clearly ringing true, but halfway through the act, the routine lost much of its early impetus. By the end, you felt the audience had certainly lost interest too.

I really liked keyboard vocalist Jon Clare. It’s not easy generating enthusiasm in an audience while seated, but with his impressively dexterous digits almost a blur on the keys, Clare made for a very entertaining, likeable performer. Add to the mix some furious harmonica playing and strong vocals, and he’s just about the perfect keyboard bashing, singing package.

The next time you hear someone say magic is boring, buy them a ticket to see illusion duo Celtic Storm. As inventive, lively and polished an act as you’ll see, they promise a “new take on magic” and deliver in some style. Traditionalists may criticise their frothy fusion of magic, dance and illusion, but right from the bright opening, the audience was engaged, not least many young girls with Kerry, the female half of the act. With partner Martin, they make it all look easy, but work very hard, the trained dancers even managing to squeeze in some tidy Irish dancing to their showcase set. A craic-ing good act.

Continuing the Irish theme, showband Shanachie was equally impressive. Probably one of the most entertaining sets I’ve seen for a very long time, this had everything. Coming direct from the Essence of Ireland tour and featuring vocalist Nathan James, Ged Graham and Sara Jory - to unfairly name check just a few members - the vocals were top notch and musicianship first class throughout. Such experienced bands can appear a little showcase weary at times, but this set fizzed with enthusiasm from the first note to the last. “More Nathan James please, you were great,” said one of the text messages displayed mid-set on the screens at either side of the stage. Whoever sent that wasn’t wrong. Ditto the whole band.

Four-piece group Zoots could liven up any venue. Formerly known as Jamie & the First Class - and they were always impressive in that musical guise - they’ve developed a new sound and image, belting out some great retro tunes. A charismatic lead singer plus the tight musicianship from fellow members makes for a very impressive band of young guys. And, for having the creativity to change, not stagnate, they deserve praise. Time then for compere Brodie to have his own time in the spotlight. His comedy, at the least, is quite original, here playing to the older members in the audience as he lampooned today’s kids. As he showed when he opened the show, he’s not afraid to take comedic risks, so I’m sure a full 45-minute set from him would be pretty entertaining and contain a few surprises. Singer Roy Hemmings has been a class vocal act for some time now and still is. Here teaming up with excellent sax player Anna Brooks - having just completed a summer season of his Dictionary of Soul Show on Blackpool’s North Pier - they breezed through a faultless set. “No Afro, no sequins, no flares,” states his publicity. Listening to him sing, you don’t miss any such gimmicks, he’s the real deal. In truth, no one would have complained had Hemmings and Brooks performed a bit longer and closed the show. But, two more acts were billed, the first being Johnny King, a lively enough, but in the final analysis, unexceptional tribute to the King. Top marks though for at least choosing lesser-performed numbers such as (Marie’s the Name) His Latest Flame. That left keyboard/vocals duo Hi-Life, aka Will Penney and Graham Clow, showing the kind of effortless musicianship that only comes after years on the road with numerous artists. Maybe not the liveliest act to end a showcase with, but certainly enjoyable enough to wind down with.

Coming away from what was an enjoyable and always interesting evening, it was the top-notch musicianship and vocals that stuck most in the memory. Notably, Shanachie, a vibrant, 25-minute long treat. And the inventiveness and energy of Celtic Storm. Oh yes, and Jon Clare - the spirit of Jerry Lee Lewis being alive and very well in Poole, Dorset.

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