one4review | On 27, Aug 2025

The Scotlish Arts Club presented the Mark McKergow Quartet and Pippa Evans in the Under Milk Wood Jazz Suite only twice this Fringe, which is the only disappointment because it is worthy of considerably more performances.  A delightful hour of mellow jazz overlain and interspersed with the classic Dylan Thomas’ 1953 radio play for voices.

Stan Tracey’s 1965 Under Milk Wood Jazz Suite is regarded as a landmark in British Jazz and was performed, thanks to permission granted by Clark Tracey, in the club’s Georgian splendour overlooking the sunny treescaped haven that is Rutland Square, a private garden open to the public.

Originally an instrumental, in 1975 a rarely performed text version was created, and it was this collaboration that we so enjoyed.

The jazz numbers included Starless and Bible Black, Nogood Boyo, Cockle Row and Llareggub, performed by Mark McKergow on tenor saxophone and pianist Ewan Johnston, who were joined for these performances by Roy Percy on double bass and Finlay Morgan on drums.

Pippa Evans (best known for BBC Radio4’s Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, and Showstopper!, who is now an Edinburgh resident) narrated interspersed with vocals, bringing celebrated Welsh poet and author Dylan Thomas’ lyrical words to life.  We were treated to Thomas’ evocative imagery about the inhabitants of the fictitious Welsh fishing village of Llareggub – “the lives they live, and the dreams they dream”.

*****

Reviewed by HJ

The Club Room at Scottish Arts Club