Zena James took command of the jazz room at the Bull’s Head on a wintry Friday night with an admirable collection of songs and a crack trio to help her deliver them — Dominic Ashworth on guitar, Mike Bradley on drums and Andy Hamill on bass and on a surprise selection of additional instruments. The songs were, as Zena James announced, a combination of standards, original and pop numbers, but all proved to be impeccable jazz interpretations. Even the tune-up sounded good.
You Move Me was a pulsing, steamy number. Feverish à la Lee. Mike Bradley laid down a rock steady beat that got toes tapping in the audience and built a foundation for the others. Dominic Ashworth’s leisurely, loping guitar shadowed Zena’s sultry vocals, until he began to solo with sinewy virility, as insistent as a cop knocking at the door — but a lot more welcome. Zena’s singing floated out over the room, like oil calming troubled waters.
Andy Hamill gave a warm, thrumming heartbeat to Van Heusen and Mercer’s I Thought About You and Mike Bradley began what would prove to be an evening’s masterclass on the use of brushes by a drummer, deploying them here to sharply rhythmic effect. Zena James definitely took us on this romantic revery of a trip on a train, with Dominic providing comping of pointillist minimalism before snapping into an irresistible groove.
Neil Young’s Only Love Can Break Your Heart was an example of Zena James’s killer instinct for choosing the right songs and was a highlight of the gig. The theme was carved out by Andy Hamill and Mike Bradley, and Dominic Ashworth’s fleeting strums had a flamenco inflection. Zena unfurled the lovely lyrics like a priceless carpet. Her timing and sense of the song’s potential were impeccable. Dominic then moved onto a remarkable bebop reinvention of the tune.
That Ole Devil Called Love was a feature for Dominic and Zena until Andy Hamill suddenly revealed his gift for playing heartfelt harmonica. Mike Bradley wrapped things up with a shimmer of brushes and cymbals before displaying his funky rhythmic chops on Two Peas.
Andy Hamill sculpted the melodic shape of Ray Noble’s 1934 masterpiece The Very Thought of You while Zena James lit up the lyrics. And then Andy began to whistle — a perfect period touch. Al Bowlly would have been proud.
The impressive reach and range of Zena James’s taste was shown by the inclusion of Rag and Bone Man’s Human, a dark piece with minatory bass, tense staccato drumming and stormy chords from Dominic Ashworth. The Time Has Come was a Dominic Ashworth original, a mysterioso and turbulent number with a deliberate 007 mood. The brooding roll of Dominic’s guitar theme was accompanied by skittering effects from Andy Hamill on the bowed double bass and Zena’s Bond girl vocals.
My Love Is was another example of Zena James’s immaculate taste in songs. Written by Billy Miles, first recorded by Little Willie John in 1959 and covered by Diana Krall, it’s a gem. It began as a slinky sashay sketched out by Andy Hamill and Mike Bradley, playing the drums with his hands. Zena’s singing gave full value to the superb lyrics, matched by a virtuoso solo from Dominic Ashworth.
A very hip high point in a fabulous evening.

Photo courtesy of Zena James