Bruce Henry

When: 12/20/07
Where: The Dakota
Who: Bruce Henry (voice), Scott Fultz (saxophone), Jason Craft (keyboards), Serge Akou of Joto (bass), Wendell Henry (drums)

I previewed Bruce Henry's holiday show for MinnPost and arrived to find a slightly different band than I thought I'd see, which is not at all unusual for jazz. I was expecting Gary Raynor on bass and Daryl Boudreaux on percussion; we got Akou on bass and Fultz on saxophone. No problem. They played a couple of tunes before Bruce came on stage with Al Jarreau's "Spain (I Can Recall)," a song that demands immediate verbal gymnastics. From there, because it was a holiday show, they gave us "A Child Is Born" and another Christmas tune, after which Bruce asked the crowd what else they were celebrating. Birthdays, anniversaries, retirement...and one man said "Her," beaming at the woman seated across from him, who beamed back. Bruce was singing Earth, Wind & Fire's "Mighty Mighty" when we had to leave for another place we'd promised to be that night.

I liked the drummer very much and will watch for him.

On my calendar for April 19: Bruce Henry's Freedom Train at Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church.

Photos: Bruce; Serge looking snappy; Scott and Wendell