We had an audience of over 200 people in the beautiful gardens of Ely’s Old Fire Engine House restaurant on Sunday 22nd June for our second jazz spectacular. James Pearson, resident pianist and Artistic Director at Ronnie Scott’s famous Soho Jazz Club, took the lead. He was joined by his brother, Joe Pearson, on drums and Sam Burgess - another member of the All Stars - played bass. Completing the line-up was the talented barbershop quartet, the Très Belles, featuring James’ and Joe’s sister Tess. The play list included "We'll meet again", "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy", "Ain't Misbehavin", "Mr Sandman", "I got Rhythm", "Simon Smith and his Amazing Dancing Bear", "Maple Leaf Rag", "Sweet Georgia Brown", "Lollipop!", "Baby of Mine", and "It don't mean a thing (if it ain't got that swing)". To close the concert the audience and musicians sang the famous Nina Simone number "I wish I knew how it would feel to be free". The event has raised almost £2,000 for Amnesty. Almost a quarter of this was raised from the raffle which had superb prizes generously donated by Ronnie Scott’s, the Old Fire Engine House restaurant, wood turner Sam Cook, Peacock’s Tearoom, ADeC and Topping & Co. Special thanks go to the Old Fire Engine House for providing their beautiful gardens and the delicious cream teas, and we are already planning for James Pearson and friends to return to Ely next summer for the third year running. 

To see all the photos go to: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wzc71mmncbjjt03/AADQGRd2SvcY7neqIlxhKSkaa