The Concert Room at St George's Hall is a stunning venue and seemed like the perfect place to 'Swing into Christmas'.
The Down for the Count jazz orchestra was back in Liverpool for a festive special and filling the stage of the historic building kicking off a night of classic, soulful jazz with It's The Most Wonderful Time of The Year.
The ensemble is headed by musical director and former medical student Mike Paul-Smith, 36, who has been taking his band on the road since 2005. But for me, it was when Marvin Muoneké opened his mouth and began to sing, my jaw dropped to the floor.
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This man has the most effortless, soulful voice I have ever had the privilege of hearing live. Every song he takes on with ease, it was a delight to watch him run from song to song with his warm tones and a little smile, the sheer joy of performing exudes from his every movement. He was so at home with Paul-Smith's incredible orchestra I was blown away.
In fact, the whole show was almost faultless. The lush, sweeping sounds of swing, syncopated, punchy rhythms and incredible solos from across the sections; the audience was rendered helpless, you couldn't stop yourself toe-tapping, swaying in your seat or clapping along to the smooth catalogue of music from greats like Duke Ellington, Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.
Singer, Ineza is equally as impressive with clean, beautiful vocals that sit deep in the soul of the music. Every musician on stage holds a level of talent we mere muggles could only dream of when we were singing into hairbrushes as teenagers (just me?).
Highlights included a version of Nat King Cole's Stardust, which was so dreamy I want Marvin to sing me to sleep every night, The Christmas Song and Ineza singing from Ella Fitzgerald's Christmas album. This was all punctuated by Paul-Smith himself who made wonderfully cheesy jokes through the evening and was so humble and grateful to fans old and new he made the audience so comfortable people were on their feet and dancing in the aisles by the end of the night – even a 94-year-old.
My only issue was I would have liked the microphones for the vocalists a little louder at parts, but not too much as these slick professional performers knew just how much to give and when to hold back and let the orchestra swing.
Mr Jazzy Christmas himself, Michael Bublé has described Down for the Count as "awesome", and I would have to agree. As much as we need more doctors in the world, I am very glad Mike Paul-Smith quit medicine and brought his orchestra to Liverpool and I can't wait for them to come back in April.
The Down for the Count 'Swing Into Christmas' tour continues at the Lawrence Batley Theatre in Huddersfield on Monday, December 18, the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in Birmingham on Wednesday, December 20, The Stoller Hall in Manchester on Thursday, December 21, The Albert Hall in Nottingham on Friday, December 22 and two shows at Cadogan Hall in London on Thursday, December 28.
Tickets: £32/£30. With more information about the tour and how to get tickets and future shows via their website: https://www.downforthecount.co.uk/our-bands/down-for-the-count-orchestra/.
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