Month: December 2019

24 November – Alex Clarke Hot Five featuring Jamie Brownfield:  This band comprises five musicians, all talented and accomplished, with Alex Clarke on reeds (also the leader), Jamie Brownfield on trumpet, Tom Kincaid on keyboard, Jack Cotterill on drums and Richard Vernon on bass.  Songs included:  ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’, ‘All of Me’, ‘I’ve Got Rhythm’, ‘Teach Me Tonight’, ‘Pennies from Heaven’, ‘Give me a Kiss to Build a Dream on’ and ‘When You’re Smiling’.  Delightful to listen to.  Hope to see them on an SJS programme again in the not too distant future.

17 November – Chicago Teddy Bears Society Jazzband:  This was the John Moore Tribute Concert, our Chairman for many years.  The Teddybears are currently our Band of the Year for the fourth time – the only band to receive this award so many times.   The band consisted of Jamie Brownfields on trumpet, Rae Owens on double bass & tuba, Brian Singleton on drums, John Padfield on reeds, James Lucas on trumpet, Andy Mackenzie on trombone and Ed Lee on piano.  Sadly I missed this band as I was away that weekend but everyone has told me how well they played and how warmly SJS welcomed them.

10 November – Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces:  This band presented a mix of traditional style jazz and, as its name suggests influenced by the legendary Bix Beiderbeck.  Bob Dwyer (leader) on trombone with Paula Jackman on reeds, Tony Mowell on trumpet, Hugh Crozier on piano and vocals, John Siret on double bass and bass sax and Graham Collicott on drums.   Amongst the numbers were: ‘Davenport Blues’, ‘Oh Look at Them, Ain’t she Pretty’, ‘Bourbon Street Parade’, ‘Alligator Rag’, ‘A Hundred Years from today’, ‘Putting on the Ritz’,  ‘Caledonia’ and ‘So do I’.  I am sure we will be seeing them again.

3 November – S & G Band:  this band seemed able to recreate a sound belonging to an earlier era and it was delicious.  George Huxley on reeds (leader), Mark Johnson on string bass and sousaphone, Tim McGrath on banjo and guitar, Andy Peat on trumpet & flugelhorn, Terry McGrath on trombone and reeds and Sheila Fawkes the vocalist.  Some numbers were:  ‘I’m a Little Blackbird’, ‘The Folk Who Live on the Hill’, ‘Blue Moon’, ‘Talk of the Town’, Petite Fleur’, ‘Hey Big Boy’, ‘Zing Went the Strings of my Heart’, ‘Dans La Rue Entibe’ and ‘Dancing Cheek to Cheek’.  This band made its SJS debut last April and this time we knew we were in for a good concert.

27 October – Merseysippi Jazz Band

20 October – Baby Jools & the Jazzaholics:  This group were playing today to celebrate SJS 38^th Anniversary Concert.  The band consisted of Baby Jools on drums (leader), Jim Swinnerton on bass, Brian Mellor on banjo, Mike Owen on trombone, Danny Illet on trumpet and Karl Hird on reeds.   This band are simply superb with music including:  ‘Girl of My Dreams’, ‘Old Man Moses’ (my favourite of the day), ‘Mama’s Gone to Buy’, ‘Since I laid my Burden Down’, ‘Petite Fleur’, ‘Those were the Days’ and ‘When My Dreamboat comes Home.  Feet were tapping and everyone left with smiles on their faces.   What a great gig.

13 October – No Concert

6 October – Wabash Jazzmen:  A highly entertaining band with a distinctive rhythmic style influenced by early Ken Colyer and Chris Barber bands.  Playing today were Mark Challinor (leader) on banjo/guitar/ukulele, Richard Vernon on string bass, Mike Pemberton on trombone, Bill Smith on cornet and harmonica and Matt Palmer, standing in for Mike Hayler currently sick, playing the reeds.  Their opening number was ‘Curse of an Aching Heart’.  Some of the other numbers played during this gig were: ‘Savoy Blues’, ‘I’m Doing Nothing’, ‘Blue turning Grey over You’, ‘Fidgetty Feet’, ‘You Meet the Nicest People in Your Dreams’ and ‘East Coast Trot’.  Also played, a number first recorded by the Band twenty five years ago, was ‘The Fat Cat on a Fence’.  They finished up with ‘TheWolverine Blues’.  I don’t need to say it but I will, the Band were very well received as they are popular with Stafford Jazz Society and their programme and music is great.  Look forward to next time.