Month: March 2023

Fret & Fiddle – 26 March 2023:  Good to see this group back again.  Sally Minchin leads on the jazz violin + vocals and in addition there is Andy Bole on guitar, Richard Hughes on piano, Simon Smith on string bass and Steve Street on drums.  As a special treat during a number called ‘Suzuki Blues’ composed by Sally she was joined on stage by her two sons Ben (10) and Freddie (8).   Their opening number was ‘Stomping at the Decca’ and numbers following included ‘After You’re Gone’, Tiger Rag’, ‘ Misirlou (a fabulous folk song from the Eastern Mediterranean region – performed by Andy Bole)’, ‘It Had to Be You’, ‘That’s Why I’m Riding the Rails’, ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’, ‘J’Attendrai’, ‘Tiger Rag’ ‘Has Anybody Seen My Gal’, ‘Chocolate Jesus’ and ‘I’m Ready (a Spanish piece – marvellous)’.  This is not the full programme.  If you want to see/hear this group don’t wait until the next time they come to the White Eagle Club find a venue near you where they are playing!

Paul Harrison’s “Over ‘Ere UK Tour” Band – 19 March 2023:  Well, was it worth waiting for?   You bet!  The band consisted of Kevin Grenfell (leader) on trombone and trumpet, Paul Harrison on clarinet and sax, Soren Stausbol on piano and vocals, Simon Smith on double bass and ‘Baby’ Jools Holland on drums.  They opened with ‘The King’ and went on to play, in no particular order:  ‘Rondo (by Mozart in D major)’, ‘Lips from New Orleans’, ‘Mr Sandman’, ‘Blue Drag (first time I have heard this and I just loved it)’, ‘How Can You Leave Me Now’, ‘Swing 42 (which I also loved)’, ‘Bei Mir Bist Du Schon – or My Dear Mr Shane’, ‘Once in a While’ and ‘Mr Sandman’.  They finished with ‘Bye Bye Blackbird’.   The audience leapt to their feet to give a well-deserved acknowledgement and express their enjoyment of hearing a virtuoso international performer with his all-star touring band.  I really do hope we see these again.

Wabash Jazzmen featuring Nick Ward – 12 March 2023:   One of SJS’s favourite bands they play traditional New Orleans style flair in the style of Ken Colyer and early Chris Barber.   The band consists of Mark Challinor (leader) on banjo, guitar and ukulele, Richard Leach on trombone, Tony Pipkin on cornet, Richard Vernon on string bass,n Mike Hayler on reeds and Nick Ward on percussion.   They opened with ‘At a Georgia Camp Meeting’ and went on to play, in no particular order, ‘Wolverine Blues’, ‘Put on Your High Heel Sneakers’, ‘One Sweet Night’, ‘I Never Knew (that Roses Grew)’, ‘I’m In Love’, ‘Weary Blues, ‘Louisiana’, ‘There’s Yes Yes In Your Eyes’ and ‘Take Off Your Skin and Dance Around in Your Bones’.   They received a standing ovation and happy people spilled out to the car park to drive home.  I am sure it won’t be long before we see them again.

Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band – 26 February 2023:   Sadly I was missing for this concert so cannot report fully on the range of music.  However I do know the band, lead by Sarah Spencer on saxophone, played with Mike Owen on trombone, Mike “Magic” Henry on trumpet, “Lord” Jim Swinnerton on string bass, Hugh Crozier on piano and “Baby” Jools Aldridge on drums.  They are always a class act and well liked by all who come to hear them play.

Jake Leg Jug Band – 19 February 2023:  So nice to see this band back again, and with a new young member, Cohen Wilcox, on the washboard (yes, son of Duncan).   Duncan Wilcox, leader, on double bass, Neil Hulse on guitar, warren “Lonnie” James on banjo, Liam Ward on jug, harmonica and musical saw, and Mike Pembroke on trombone presented a fabulous concert of music from the 20s and 30s.  They opened with ‘I Can’t Dance I’ve Got Ants in My Pants’, and went on with some of the following numbers:  ‘On the Road Again’, ‘Some Day You’ll Be Sorry’, ‘Making Whoopee’, ‘You’re Feets Too Big’, ‘Let the Midnight Special Shine a Light on Me’, ‘Champagne Charlie is my Name’, ‘Get ‘em from the Peanut Man’ and ‘St James’ Infirmary’.   Vocals from most of the band gave this concert a very nostalgic sound of early 20^th century America.   Already looking forward to seeing the band again soon. 

Matt Palmer’s Gatsby Go-Getters – 12 February 2023:   This was the first time this new combo has played to a live audience.   With Matt Palmer leading on reeds and vocals, Dave Leithead on trumpet and vocals, Joe Nutman on ragtime piano, Al Harris on bass and vocals and Nick Ward on percussion they opened with ‘Lover Come Back to Me’.  Music from the 20s and 30s was brought to life by the stylish outfits and the music was chosen with care.  Amongst other numbers were:  ‘Yes Sir That’s My Baby’, ‘The Man I Love’, ‘Top Hat, White Tie and Tails’, ‘Fair and Square in Love’, Jazz Me Blues’, ‘Nagasaki Blues’ and Joe giving us ‘Shreveport Stomp’ that completed the first half.  There followed ‘You’re Driving Me Crazy’, ‘St Louis Blues’, ‘Everybody Loves My Baby’, ‘The Ragtime Dance’, ‘Cheek to Cheek’, ‘When You Wish Upon a Star’, ‘The Charleston’ led to their finishing number ‘ Goodnight Sweetheart’ and then people were up on their feet.  What a lovely concert and so very evocative of those early years of jazz.  I am sure we cannot wait to hear them again.

Baby Jools’ Jazzaholics – 29 January 2023:  We were thrilled to see the return of this well liked band with leader and on the drums, ‘Baby’ Jools Aldridge himself, playing alongside Jim ‘Lord’ Swinnerton on string bass, Warren ‘Lonnie’ James on banjo, guitar & vocals, Karl Hird on reeds, Mike ‘Magic’ Henry on trumpet and Kevin Grenfell on trombone, vocals and jokes!!  This popular band has a wide repertoire of traditional jazz music and their opening number was ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’.   This was followed, in no particular order, by ‘When The Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbing Along’, ‘Give Me a Kiss to Build a Dream on’, ‘One of These Days’, ‘Sentimental Journey’, ‘The Way I Walk’ and two lovely numbers by Warren and Jim only – ‘Cotton Fields Back Home’ and ‘Midnight Special’.  This just whets my appetite for when Warren comes with the Lonnie Donegan Story in April.  They rounded up the concert with ‘Going Home’.   They received a standing ovation at the conclusion of this number.

New Orleans Hotshots – 22 January 2023:  What a treat to have the New Orleans Hotshots with us on 22^nd.  Leader, Dave Harmer on the trombone and vocals, Dave Leithead on trumpet and vocals, Dave Wood on the clarinet and saxophone, Al Harris on double bass and vocals, Keith Chaplin on drums and Joe Nutman on piano keyboard all gave us a great show of traditionally New-Orleans style jazz.   They opened with ‘Muskrat Ramble’ and in no particular order some of the numbers were ‘ What a Wonderful World’, ‘Up A Lazy River’, ‘Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone’, ‘Kitten on the Keys’, ‘You Belong To Me’, ‘Old Rocking Chair’, ‘Marching to Georgia’, ‘Yes Sir That’s My Baby’ and ‘Home in Pasadena’.   They finished with ‘Hello Central Give Me Doctor Jazz’.   This is the first time we have had a band whose front row are all called Dave – so it’s a first for SJS.  Good music, good programme, good presentation – what more to say except please can we have them back soon.

Robin Mason’s Apex Jazz & Swing Band – 15 January 2023:  It was good to see Robin Mason’s band again.  This consists of Robin (leader) on reeds, Jon Stone on trumpet and vocals, Ron Hills on trombone and vocals, Rod Kelly on keyboard and vocals, Bob Boucher on bass and Jim Harney on drums.   They opened with ‘Swinging the Blues’ and went on with ‘My Blue Heaven’, ‘ I’ve Found a New Baby’, ‘Mood indigo’, ‘Because I’ve got a Crush My Baby on You’, ‘Rent Party Blues’, ‘You’re Nobody’s Sweetheart Now’, ‘The Sunny Side of the Street’, as great rock number ‘Route 66’, ‘My Baby Just Cares for Me’, ‘Skylark’ and finished with ‘Stevedore Stomp’.   This band will soon be celebrating its 30^th anniversary.

Matt Palmer’s Eagle Jazzband – 8 January 2023:   What a way to start 2023.   This band was something to hear and behold.  Leader, Matt Palmer, was on trombone and clarinet, Pete Brown on trumpet and cornet, Richard Slater was on trombone, Brian Mellor was on banjo and guitar, David Deakin on double bass and sousaphone and Jack Amblin on drums (and washboard and … tap dancing!).  They opened with ‘When We Were Young Maggie’ and went on to include – in no particular order – ‘The coffee Grinder’, ‘Dinah’, ‘South’, ‘Quincy Street Blues (renamed Blame it on the Blues by Sidney Beshet)’, ‘Yes Sir, That’s My Baby’, ‘There’s a Rainbow Round My Shoulder’ and ‘Homeward Bound’.   It finished with ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ which they did, for sure.  Along the journey we had Richard Slater, complete with hat and tube with funnel on the end, give us a Boys Brigade band rendition of Everyone Likes Ice Cream but with his own words, and Jack Amblin was great on the washboard and also, much to our surprise, on tap dancing.  What an amazing variety of things to listen to and see.  People went out with big smiles on their faces and thoughts of Sunday Night at the London Palladium.  Thank you for setting a good standard for this year’s gigs.   At the interval Matt Palmer, who was the first to call our little tuck shop the Sunset Café, was happy to formally hang the sign on the official nail(!) and for good measure we also had Dave Rochelle who designed the sign for us.  

1 January – No Concert