Coq D’Argent by night
Like a lot of people, I must confess to an ambivalent attitude towards the whole New Year’s Eve thang. But all that changed around five years ago when, at the behest of good friend/good pianist James Hayes, I began doing a yearly NYE gig at Coq D’Argent, a beautiful restaurant sitting atop 1 Poultry, one of the most iconic buildings in the City.
Tina May
They treat us very well there, we always have a good time and this year was no different. In the company of fine bassist Richard Sadler and the excellent Tina May on vocals, we played our usual mix of jazz, Latin and swing standards for the cool clientele (including a very polite and pleasant Jenny Garbis from TV’s ‘The Apprentice’, trivia fans).
Basically, Coq D’Argent on New Year’s Eve is one of those gigs that you always look forward to, where the vibe is always right from the very first downbeat.
It’s also a treat to be up on the roof garden balcony when midnight strikes – you’ve got the best seat in the house to see all the fireworks displays in town. And did I mention that we always get a damn fine feed too? This year: roast beef and French fries with a lovely glass of red.
Happy 2016 to all.
(NB. RIP Tina May, a great singer and lovely person.)
Sounds Of Surprise 