Jim Hayes aka Jonny Midnight
Co-operative Funeralcare Band
Conductor: Mike Fowles
WOS Recording: WOS 029
Total Playing Time: 62.30

Here’s a CD that will put a smile on your face: Jim Hayes as a cross between Sam Spade, Julio Iglesias and Harry James – a kind of singing detective with a cornet.

And as altered egos go, by heck the lad can play.

Considerable talents

The Co-op’s top man showcases his considerable talents by placing his tongue firmly in his cheek.

It’s a trick that would usual cause a performer a serious problem or two on demanding repertoire such as this, but this is a very classy soloist who delivers on his strengths with insouciant ease.

Dark edged style

The sense of dark edged style is heard from start to finish – as if the listener has just walked into a dingy Newcastle waterfront nightclub way past midnight to find a slightly melancholic old crooner on stage thumping out a jazz classic to an empty room.

You suspect Jim has walked into his fair share of such joints over the years (he’s not called Jonny Midnight for nothing you know) and has soaked up the pre dawn atmosphere with the help of a curvaceous femme fatale on his arm.

Now though very happily married, and with a little smasher of his own to keep him awake at night, he has recalled those youthful days with a suave sense of performing style.

Broken heart

From the pulsating broken heart of  ‘Cry Me A River’ all the way to the all embracing tub-thumping ‘People’, the soloist reveals himself to be an intuitive, commanding focal point, backed by a band and conductor sympathetic to his requirements.

Deliberately, the tracks all have that feel of the night – and a murky, crepuscular, slightly danger filled one at that in the less salubrious parts of town.

Loved on the margins

The inspiration comes from performers and writers who knew a bit of heartache, drank a little too much, lived and loved on the margins - and a few who you suspect may like to try it out too.

The smoky atmosphere created by the Legrand, Goodrum and Hamilton diva standards is enhanced by the hallucinatory ‘Apex’ by Pete Meechan and the sultry treatment of the down right dirty Anthony Newley, ‘Feelin Good’ (which he must have been as he woke up to Joan Collins in her prime most mornings).

Flash items such as ‘Samba Gitana’ and ‘The Green Hornet’ are played with an authentic, almost lazy facility, whilst the Sambuca soaked, Cuban stacked heeled sassiness of Lucy Pankhurst’s, ‘Abrazo’ is delivered dripping in suntan oil and Brlycream.  

Sharp suit

This isn’t just a rehash of old classics in a dark, sharply tailored musical suit however, and the inclusion of interesting works from James McFadyen entitled ‘Blue Mars’ (complete with spooky vocals) and the delicate ‘Claire de Lune’, as well as Matthew Hall’s witty pastiche signature track of all things James Bond to Perry Mason should be welcome additions to any young soloist’s repertoire.

If any of them are to play them as well as Jonny Midnight though, then we think Jim Hayes may well have to take them on a bit of a guided tour after dark to some of his old haunts.

In the mean time, put this CD on, sit back and enjoy a very late musical night out…

Iwan Fox

Contents

1. Cry Me a River, Hamilton arr. Morrison, 4.28
2. Apex, Peter Meechan, 4.02
3. The Green Hornet, Al Hirt arr. Morrison, 2.27
4. Claire de Lune, Debussy arr. McFadyen, 5.31
5. Abrazo, Lucy Pankhurst, 4.24
6. Here’s to the Heroes, John Barry arr. Drury, 3.57
7. Concerto for Trumpet, Harry James arr. Howarth, 3.51
8. Feelin Good, Bricuse arr. Kerwin, 4.05
9. Dial M for Midnight, Matthew Hall, 3.19
10. You Needed Me, Randy Goodrum arr. Brevik, 3.56
11. Blue Mass, James McFadyen, 6.53
12. Get this Party Started, Linda Perry arr. Kerwin, 3.44
13. What are you doing for the rest of your life?, Michel Legrand arr. Morrison, 3.06
14. Samba Gitana, Mendez arr. Muscroft, 3.48
15. People, Stanley Black arr. Catherall, 4.56

Playing Time: 62.30