Brown
Sugar
Of all the music venues in Bangkok, there is perhaps
no more than a handful that can claim an international
reputation. One that can is Brown Sugar.
Situated on Soi Sarasin, across the road from Lumpini
Park, this ultra-popular venue has been hosting great
bands for longer than most of us can remember.
I was there last Friday with a friend of mine and,
as always, we were treated to some truly fine sounds.
We arrived at around 10.45pm and the place was already
full to the rafters. Squeezing through the crowds,
we took a table near the back and settled in for a
night of top class jazz.
The JRP Little Big Band were already in full swing
and, as ever, they were wowing the crowd. I have spoken
before about the quality of this band and, once again,
I was not disappointed.
What I like most about them is their versatility.
While principally a jazz outfit, they generate a bigger
following by expanding their set to include non-jazz
numbers. And they perform them all with flair.
It doesn't do any harm either to have a guy like Mr
Joe as your frontman. Despite being Thai, this man
sings in English as well as any farang you'll hear.
Add to that his film star good looks and you've got
a real draw.
My friend (an English lady) actually told me that
she'd gladly go to any gig with me, as long as Mr
Joe was singing!
And sing he did. 'Georgia', 'Fly Me To The Moon' and
'You Are The Sunshine of My Life' were just three
of the songs given the JRP treatment, and the crowd
(which seemed to be growing by the second) loved every
minute of it.
Brown Sugar isn't the biggest bar in the world, but
as a music venue it is ideal. Dark and moody, with
lots of nooks and crannies, you half expect to see
Miles Davis or Thelonius Monk lurking somewhere in
the shadows - waiting for their turn to take the stage.
The walls are littered with jazz memorabilia and the
whole venue exudes a sense that this is a place for
people who love music.
JRP wrapped up at about midnight and were followed
by an unscheduled band called Snatch. A pretty straightforward
four-piece outfit, I got the impression they were
either making their debut or developing a new line-up.
That said, they went down well. Their take on a handful
of more poppy songs seemed to hit the mark with the
audience and I even saw a couple of people dancing.
Half an hour later it was time for the Lito Jazz Band
to take the stage. And take it they did.
An extremely talented and experienced set-up, Lito
are well known on the Bangkok music scene and never
fail to please.
For fans of trad jazz, this band really hits the mark.
Opening with a smart rendition of 'Spinning Wheel'
they soon had the audience in the palm of their hand.
The sweet, yet powerful vocals from Gail, coupled
with some tasty guitar, brass and drum solos were
quite sublime. And, once again, I was overwhelmed
by the satisfaction that there I was, listening to
top quality music without having to pay a penny for
the privilege. And you just can't argue with that.
As the evening drew on, Lito trotted through their
set with style and aplomb, delighting the Brown Sugar
crowd with every note. 'Route 66', 'Just the Two of
Us', 'The Look of Love' and 'Half a Minute' all made
the play list and each was performed beautifully.
The combination of highly polished vocals, note-tight
rhythms and evocative solos made for a real treat.
Had Messrs. Davis or Monk been in the audience, I
am sure they would have approved. I certainly did.
Brown Sugar is at 231/20 Soi Sarasin Road, opposite
Lumphini Park, Bangkok. Call 02-250 1826. |
