James Valentine’s Upbeat Revue
Well known ABC radio personality fronted his Upbeat Revue at The Foundry Theatre in The Star. The revue is an entertaining mix of jazz selections and humorous stories, observations, and discussions with the audience.
The show opened with the Grant Green song Cantaloupe Women, initially very laid back but soon building in tempo. The smooth keyboard of Clayton Doley, the relaxed drumming of Nic Cesare and the understated guitar of Sam Rollings is of the highest calibre and makes for an impressive and pleasing experience. The band, appealingly illuminated in a mellow red light, then launched into Love for Sale, a delightful song that again allowed the band to display their exceptional skills.
James then greeted the audience and as older people are wont to do went through a health update. He discussed his own well publicised health issues (going very well) and invited the audience to share their dodgy tickers, twinges, deteriorating knees and hips, and other age-related conditions. He has some very funny thoughts on the experiences and conditions. This part of the show would fit into the Sydney Comedy Festival, which is currently running in various venues around town.
James explained that the band would play a couple of well-known tunes that the audience would be more familiar with, but being jazz musicians they would ruin them. They launched into George Michael’s Careless Whisper and followed it with Burt Bacharach’s (They Long to Be) Close to You.
James then switched to his talking role, and referring to his age and that of the audience, whimsically discussed matinées, EH Holdens, and how confusing Kardashians, Charli xcx, and soft serve acai are. His discussion also included films from the seventies, struggling with technology and being a grumpy old bastard. It was amusing and ridiculous banter.
The show then went in a different direction. As James wants to mentor and give opportunities to younger jazz musicians he has included singer Liz Player and bassist Sabine Tapia in parts of the show. Their scintillating rendition of the jazz standard Where Fools Rush In was extraordinary. Liz’s versatile singing was showcased with some great scatting and a call and echo routine with James and his saxophone.
James then talked about his introduction to music via the recorder and then the flute, and what joy music has brought him over the years. He also said in his professional estimation he is a “not bad” sax player. He said the sax player in MJ The Musical, which was playing next door in The Lyric Theatre, was much better than him. He described the musicians in his band with various superlatives and that they are more proficient than he is. This is not to detract from his performance and the show as an overall package. The band, the choice of and the arrangement of songs, the young guest artists, and his humour, stories and discussions make for a thoroughly delightful and entertaining event.
The full band finished with a killer version of Respect, the Otis Redding song made famous by Aretha Franklin. It was an exciting and uplifting way to finish a thoroughly enjoyable concert.
James Valentine’s Upbeat Revue was performed at The Foundry Theatre on Sunday 28th April, 2025. It will be performed in Wyong, Springwood and Wollongong in the coming months. It is highly recommended.
