Fresh and Involving

Lunchtime jazz from the Georgia Mancio Quartet
reviewed by MALCOLM MILLER

An enjoyable lunchtime jazz concert attracted a large, enthusiastic audience to the Queen Elisabeth Hall Foyer at the South Bank Centre in London UK on Thursday 2 February 2006 to hear the young singer Georgia Mancio, winner of the first prize at the Brussels International Young Jazz Singers' Competition. The event was one of the ongoing free lunchtime jazz series promoted by the SBC, which offers a valuable high profile platform for new talents, as well as welcome entertainment for jazzophile passers-by.

The well-balanced instrumental band featured the experienced jazz pianist John Pearce, Julie Walkington, bass, and Ernie Cranenburgh, guitar, each of whom play individually with Mancio, but here were performing together for the first time, though pianist and guitarist had worked together for several years. Overall the programme was well varied, with standards, some new Latin numbers and all with some fantastic improvisation solos by all four members of the quartet.

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