Bratislava Hot Serenaders, The Concorde, Eastleigh

JAZZ does not come much hotter than this.

On a sizzling summer’s night the Bratislava Hot Serenaders set a scorching pace with two sets of electrifying 20s and 30s style music.

The 19 piece ensemble made its debut at the Stoneham Lane club three years ago and was an instant hit.

And the Concorde was the last stop on the Serenaders’ latest UK tour which has included the Edinburgh Jazz and Blues Festival.

Everywhere they go these Slovakian master musicians get glowing reviews and Eastleigh can be added to that list as Concorde jazz aficionados gave them a standing ovation.

The Hot Serenaders set The Concorde on fire with their unique interpretation of American music which was all the rage in Europe at the end of the 20s.

There was a production line of 20s and 30s hits as the orchestra’s crooners and the Serenaders Sisters stepped on stage to deliver each number in a bright and breezy style.

The flawless performance matched the orchestra’s sartorial elegance with the gentlemen in their dapper evening suits and brilliantine glistening in their hair.

And the trio of singing sisters looked very fetching in their roaring 20s style costumes complete with long pearl necklaces.

The orchestra, led by brilliant trumpet player Juraj Bartos, had a great eye for detail in this jolly jaunt through a rich musical age.

Their repertoire of more than 250 numbers comes from authentic recordings practised from gramophone records collected in their homeland.

And the magnificent array of musical instruments, including reed and violins, also have a vintage hallmark.

They flipped back to the magical sounds of the 1930s Cotton Club which started in Harlem during America’s prohibition period.

The Serenaders’ play list included classics from the song books of American jazz greats Duke Ellington, Paul Whiteman, and George Gershwin including his classic jazz swing number I Got Rhythm.

Thrown into the mix were some Slovakian numbers.

In a close harmony number, wrapped around the vintage lone microphone, the Serenaders Sisters gave a beautiful rendering of a Louis Armstrong favourite I’m In The Mood For Love.

And I particularly liked the band’s catchy Paul Whiteman jazz hit, If I Had A Talking Picture Of You.

There was no shortage of humour which was beautifully illustrated with The Broken Record, a famous arrangement by BBC Dance Orchestra directed by legendary English bandleader Henry Hall.

Concorde boss Cole Mathieson was given the honour of launching the orchestra’s new vinyl LP and CD, which was blessed in Slovakian style with a sprinkling of vodka.

After numerous calls for encores the band obliged with a Charleston number, Happy Feet.

A mood which summed up the audience as they stepped outside after an evening of vintage jazz.

Duncan Eaton