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Judy Roberts London House Trio, Plus One
Judy Roberts London House Trio, Plus One
Date Posted: September 12 2011
Written By: Randy Freedman
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Every once in a long while the moon and the stars align, and fortune and circumstance smile on music lovers in such a way that gives us a glimpse into a past great musical era. In the 1960s and into the early 1970s, Chicago’s London House was universally regarded as one of the premier jazz venues in the world.
The London House boasted a roster of great national talent like Oscar Peterson, Dave Brubeck, Marian McPartland, Cannonball Adderley, Audrey Morris, George Shearing and other legendary figures that enabled it to gain that reputation. At the height of that era, Chicago’s own iconic pianist and vocalist, Judy Roberts, became the first woman to have led the London House’s resident trio, expertly supported by upright bassist Nick Tountas and drummer Rusty Jones.
This past July 7 through 10, one of Chicago’s current premier jazz clubs, Joe and Wayne Segal’s The Jazz Showcase (809 South Plymouth Court), welcomed the return of that great Judy Roberts London House Trio, with the enhanced addition of Roberts’ musical partner and husband, the renowned saxophonist, Greg Fishman.
Since Roberts relocated from Chicago to Phoenix some four years ago (a move to a better climate that might be considered commonplace for anyone else, but which some local media members have chosen to repeatedly examine and reexamine as though under a microscope), her return visits and engagements are highly anticipated by her large Chicago fan base. This occasion proved to be no exception. On July 7, the Showcase was filled with an electric “standing room only” capacity audience on a Thursday night for Roberts’ opener. Roberts and company made it clear to all early on, that none would leave disappointed.
Beginning with a slightly uncharacteristic, yet perfectly timed display of piano keyboard pyrotechnics on “Speak Low” (Weill), along with her usual subtlety, charm, and musical wit on both piano and vocals, Roberts succeeded in captivating her widely partisan audience, who eagerly sought the opportunity to demonstrate their appreciation.
More expected and familiar were songs that are frequently requested of Roberts by her fans: “My Attorney Bernie” (Frishberg), which was a number one radio hit for Roberts in, of all places, Singapore; the classic “Take Five” (Desmond), on which Roberts offers a rarely performed set of lyrics written by Dave Brubeck’s wife Iola, and with the phrasing, enunciation and timing to pull them off beautifully; “Señor Blues” (Silver), a moody and catchy recreation of an American radio hit for Roberts; and “Centerpiece” (Lambert, Hendricks and Ross), highlighted by the seemingly instinctive, amazing musical timing shared by Roberts and Fishman.
To offer another musical highlight and a mild surprise, Roberts reached back to her “fusion” roots and updated the tune “Lady Day and John Coltrane” by the talented, self-styled “bluesologist” Gil Scott-Heron (who had passed away two months earlier). This required Roberts to re-channel a haunting, silk-smooth vocal style suggestive of her earliest recordings, but with all her present day experience and vocal dexterity. This song also offered a vehicle for Fishman to step out with a riveting saxophone solo that may have evoked Coltrane’s memory, but clearly carried Fishman’s own brand. While this quartet could only suggest rather than duplicate the larger sound, presence and impact of her old fusion bands, perhaps the musical success of this particular song will inspire Roberts and the Jazz Showcase to consider the re-creation of a larger Roberts-led “fusion” band at some point in the future.
Special mention goes to the world-class rhythm section of bassist Tountas and drummer Jones, who played with the needed restraint to allow the more subtle aspects of Roberts’ and Fishman’s performance to be fully enjoyed.
Perhaps because she is often heard in Chicago either as the unselfish and talented accompanist to favorite vocalists like Jeannie Lambert, Paul Marinaro, and Petra van Nuis, or performing appropriate “dinner music” at venues like Chambers or Stetsons, I think it takes an occasional larger-venue appearance such as the Showcase to fully remind us what a big-stage presence and star Judy Roberts can be when she chooses to be. The occasion also serves to remind us how large and difficult to fill are the footprints Roberts leaves behind whenever she returns to Phoenix.
For more information contact: judyroberts.com or jazzshowcase.com.
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