The Fantastics thrilled their Pizza Express audience with a single ninety minutes set of top class jazz/soul/funk.
The set was split into four distinct quarters, the first and third showcasing their outstanding musicianship and the second and fourth the wonderful vocals and stage craft of Sulene Fleming.
The band featured leader Greg Boraman (organ and electric piano), James Byron (guitar), Raydn Hunter (bass), James Smith (drums) and the versatile Mark Norton (saxophone, flute, tambourine and harmonica). The instrumentals were high quality. ‘Pyramid’, ‘St. Tropez Blue’ and ‘Oblique’ were my personal favourites. Mark Norton’s versatility ensured that there was a variety in the feel of the songs.
When Sulene joined the band, her soaring vocal style demanded attention and she added a new dimension, which is hardly surprising considering that she has sung with the likes of Incognito, The Brand New Heavies and Citrus Sun. Her stage craft was excellent; she focussed on different members of the audience as she sang and this created a bond with them. I particularly enjoyed, ‘Say You Will’, ‘Hey Mister’, ‘Take A Shot’ and ‘Soul Child’ which were outstanding.
Anybody who enjoys jazz funk would enjoy listening to The Fantastics, who were talking of releasing a new album soon. Sulene Fleming, who is working on a solo project, is a singer well worth listening to.
Johns London Music Reviews 