23 April to 28 May

Brolly paraders getting younger and younger and brollies getting smaller.

28 May – Ivory & Gold (now renamed The Sweet & Hot
Quartet).  The final concert in the SJS
2016/17 year.  This foursome is really
the thinking man’s jazz.  Great music –
ranging from syncopated to blues and cakewalk and blues – and great fun.  Graham Smith (drums) gave his maiden vocal
rendition which brought tears to the eyes!!
Thomas ‘Spats’ Langham (current SJS Musician of the year) was on banjo
and guitar, Jeff Barnhart on piano and his wife Anne on flute.  I hope they are back with us soon.

21 May – Chicago Swing Katz.
Playing music from the jazz age to the swing craze and in the Chicago
style were musicians Jeff Matthews (reeds), Pete Ainge (trumpet), Mike Owen
(trombone), Roy Sainsbury (guitar), Derek Harrison (piano), Mike Carnie (drums)
and Edward Lloyd-Hughes (double bass).  A
power cut affected electric instruments and put the lights out so instead of
jazz in the park we had ‘jazz in the dark’.
Initially non-plussed for ten seconds the band valliantly played on.

14 May – The Wabash Jazzmen.    This was the second of two Stafford Music
Festival concerts that we managed to arrange.
Hot, driving jazz in a distinctive rhythmic, foot-tapping style led by
Mark Challinor on banjo, with Gordon Whitworth (trumpet), Mike Pembroke
(trombone), Mike Hayler (reeds) and Richard Vernon (double bass).  This band really packs a punch and was well
received.

7 May – The Pedigree Jazzmen.  The first of two Stafford Music Festival
concerts they gave us ‘A Salute to Trad Jazz’ with music from the 50s and
60s.  Chris Walker led on clarinet, with
Tony Mann (trombone), Andy Chislett (trumpet), John Noddings (banjo/guitar),
Ken Ames (double bass) and Colin Larn (drums).
Great music, great playing, great concert.

30 April – Christine Tyrrell with Matt Palmer’s Rhythmic
Reeds.  Such a foot-tapping
performance.  Matt Palmer always gives
101%.  Richard Vernon was sitting in for
Brian Lawrence on the bass,k Mark Challinor (guitar/banjo), George Huxley
(reeds) and Nick Ward (drums).  Christine
Tyrrell was in good voice and is always welcome at the White Eagle Club.

23 April – Richard Leach’s Clubhouse 6.  This was last SJS evening concert as this has
now been discontinued.  Richard and his
band were in great form and played with a richness and vibrancy delightful to
hear.   There was a good range from fast
and furious, through soulful to gentle.
Band consisted of Richard Leach (trombone), Gordon Whitworth (trumpet),
George Huxley (reeds), Brian Mellor (banjo + guitar), John Fellows (bass +
sousaphone) and Nick Ward (drums).