Review: Jazz with lunch at Taunton's Zizzi restaurant (From Somerset County Gazette)

Review: Jazz with lunch at Taunton's Zizzi restaurant

7:30am Sunday 6th November 2011 in Leisure By Phil Hill

SAX, drums and risotto were on the menu as the Zizzi restaurant in Taunton hosted its first jazz lunches on Sunday.

For that reason none of the guests would have suffered from indigestion later on.

The clatter of knives and forks was pleasantly drowned out by award-winning artist Becki Biggins, accompanied by renowned keyboard player Laurie Holloway, a double bass and drums.

Becki, who has scooped a host of awards and recorded music for two number one US albums, belted out several numbers with her Maria Muldaur-esque vocals.

She also entertained a larger than usual set of Sunday lunchtime diners in Zizzi with her sax playing.

During a couple of well-earned breaks diners were treated to a few music-only renditions, including a reluctant compilation of songs from the Beatles – reluctant because Laurie Holloway, who admitted turning professional in 1956, and had featured on Strictly Come Dancing and The Parkinson Show, said they ruined the jazz thing!

The session was hugely enjoyable, and Becki is back again this Sunday and on the first Sunday in December.

She introduced each piece in her friendly manner, and to watch her and the musicians sit down to their own lunch during the interval added to the informality.

The reason for the lack of indigestion? There was no way you could bolt down the delicious Italian food while tapping your feet and hands.