Tom Seals at The Arts Theatre, London
Tom Seals
The Arts Theatre, London
17 August, 2021
By Decibel Report
Radiating an onstage personality almost as large as his eleven-piece backing band, Tom Seals has put his inimitable stamp upon the big band scene in very quick order. As a young leader of a crew of mostly similar age musicians, Seals entertainingly commands a range of musical styles from blues to ballads to boogie-woogie seated from behind his piano.
Starting as he means to progress, opener Let The Good Times Roll picks up enthusiastic applause from a near full Arts Theatre as a five-piece horn section hollers out the melody of this august blues number. Placed just behind the brassy horns is a three piece female string section who serenely add a sheen of classical ambience to Hallelujah, I Love Her So, It Ain’t Necessarily So and Kissing In Between The 45s; to name a few. The rhythmic core of drums, bass and guitar not only lock down the grooves, they provide a masterclass of how to alloy a jazz/rock feel to big band horns, and classical instrumention, with Seals innate boogie-woogie passions.
Joined, after a short interval, by Strictly Come Dancing celebrity Anton Du Beke on Me And My Shadow, Just In Time and Don’t Get Around Much, it’s crystal clear that both he and Tom make a perfect musical match; as previously evidenced by their Ronnie Scott’s collaboration. What’s most interesting is the quality of Du Beke’s voice on these classic songbook tunes and the between song repartee between them is a hoot!
Nevertheless, the main focus is upon this piano man and his masterful delivery of songs that included a jaw dropping reimagining of The ‘Stones’ Sympathy For The Devil; on which Seals' fingers dance like lightening across the 88s. Seals closed out a wonderful show with a striding boogie-woogie work out placing the audience firmly in the palm of his talented hands.
As a boy from Crewe, who then found his musical feet working cruises, to go on and secure his own lockdown satellite tv show with starry guest appearances, Seals is clearly being expertly guided by a diligent management who are nurturing his enormous potential and crossover value. Catch this ascending star live when you can!
Live Photos: Andy Rawll