What a wonderful start this was to our Autumn/Winter programme!  We were told to expect the unexpected and on this - the first night of a short tour for the band - that's just how it turned out.  Since Fairport Convention's annual Cropredy show in August, the band claimed to have had little time to rehearse - but with musicians of this calibre, who needs rehearsals? 

Drawing their repertoire from some of the greatest contemporary composers of popular music, ranging from the Beatles to Duke Ellington, Ric and his band (Vo Fletcher on guitar and Michael Gregory on percussion) moved effortlessly from one musical style to another, often straying into musical improvisation that defied categorisation.

Some of the more well know tunes (the evening was almost entirely instrumental) included an extended version of Dave Brubeck's "Take 5" - which somehow managed to include the folk tune "The Hen's March"; "Mona Lisa" (made famous by Nat King Cole among others); the Beach Boys "God Only Knows"; Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven"; The Beathes "Mother Nature's Son"; and, in a similar vein, Paul McCartney's "Calico Skies".  

Among the the less well known pieces, a surprise inclusion was Nick Kershaw's "The Riddle" but the stand-out for me was John McLaughlin's "Lotus Feet", one of several extended pieces.

"Over the Rainbow" was a delightful way to finish the evening.

After a show lasting well over two hours, the audience was left enthralled, and occasionally open-mouthed at the sheer quality of the musicianship (in particular Ric's fiddle playing). 

In between songs, there was lots of friendly banter too.  Some people had travelled quite a distance to see the band (including some of Ric's relatives). Their journey was well worth it.

This is a band we'll almost certainly be seeing again in the Acoustic Sussex programme - watch this space! 

Martin