La Dolce Vita Swing Collective
Not knowing what to expect I was ready for anything on a warm September night in Edinburgh.
The venue was the incomparable Le Monde in George Street, next to The Dome and Hard Rock Café and where the beautiful people go to be seen at cocktail hour.
This was a Sunday night too and the setting was complete in the nightclub atmosphere that is the Dirty Martini lounge. First up was Dan Bastianelli the master magician who astonished the audience with not only slight of hand but a finale of mind reading in their midst.
With no break in proceedings came the main event with Tony Delicata on vocals.
This band can swing, bass and drums groove sweetly while sax and piano trade solos making this a full sound like there are more on stage. Tony is a seasoned performer from London’s West End to sold out Edinburgh Fringe shows both as writer/director but on stage on vocals and on song.
Blending his Italian roots with Volare, On An Evening In Roma and O Solo Mio we were escorted to warm Italy with cool sounds and cocktails to suit. Some of the audience order their chilled wine by the bottle and the Covid safe spaced tables made this comfortable to experience with no restricted views.
The second half opened with I Wish I Knew, an instrumental from the days when Cinema was a TV series before Tony returned with more signature arrangements. By now the audience were itching to dance and with peaks like Mack The Knife and (Theme From) New York New York they were at one with the band. The closing title song was a creative masterstroke and a deserved ovation followed.
La Dolce Vita Swing Collective promised more shows before Christmas so watch out for the ticket release.