Month: March 2025

23 February 2025 – Bill Bailey All-Stars:  This band is led by trumpeter Richard “Bill” Bailey and he described his band’s style as happy, foot-tapping, cheerful music for any occasion and he was spot on.  He was joined on stage by Roger Keay on saxophone, Dave Deakin on trombone and sousaphone, Peter “Pedro” Robinson on banjo and guitar, Steve Peters on string bass and once more Keith Chaplin on drums.  They opened with ‘At The Jazz Band Ball’ and this was followed by ‘Indiana’, ‘Trouble In Mind’, ‘Moon Over Naples (which I know as Spanish Eyes), ‘I’ve Found A New Baby’, ‘Satin Doll’, ‘China Girl’, ‘My Little Suede Shoes’’, ‘In The Mood’, ‘Tequila’, ‘Lester Leaps In’, ‘Suki Yaki’, ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’, ‘Raining In My Heart’, ‘Downtown Strutters Ball’, ‘When The Saints Come Marching In’, ‘Idle Moments’ and ended with ‘The Royal Garden Blues’.  Along with the foot-tapping I distinctly heard the sound of people humming or joining in quietly with the numbers which most of us recognised immediately.  Not only did Bill give us some vocal renditions but he also gave us a bit of light hearted humour and some interesting facts throughout the concert which went down well.  

16 February 2025 – Dave Harmer’s New Orleans Hotshots:  This traditional New Orleans style band is led by Dave Harmer on trombone, with Dave Leithead on trumpet and vocals, Kelvin Smith on reeds, Al Harris on string bass and vocals, Keith Chaplin on drums and the incomparable Joe Nutman on piano.  They opened with ‘Georgia Camp Meeting’ and went on with ‘Up A Lazy River’, ‘Mr Sandman’, ‘Basin Street Blues’, the first of two Scott Joplin rags by Joe, ‘Deed I Do’, ‘New Orleans’, ‘Nagasaki’, ‘Marching Through Georgia’, ‘Brother Can You Spare A Dime’, ‘Hello Dolly’, ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’, ‘It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing’, ‘The Gypsy’, ‘Me and Jane in a Plane’, the second Scott Joplin Rag by Joe, ‘Old Rockin’ Chair’ and finally ‘Dr Jazz’.  Terrific programme and the band was well received.  Looking forward to their next visit.

9 February 2025 – Bob Dwyer’s Celebrity Six:  This band comprises Bob Dwyer (leader) on trombone, Jon Penn on piano, Marc Easener on sousaphone, Nick Ward on vintage percussion, Matt Palmer on reeds and in place of Malcolm Walton was Gary Wood on trumpet and vocals.  They opened with ‘Indiana’ and went on with ‘South’, ‘Wolverine Blues’, ‘Bad Penny Blues’, ‘Davenport Blues’, ‘S’Wonderful’, ‘All Alone’, ‘Weary Blues’, ‘Undecided’, ‘Apex Blues’, ‘Mr Joe (previously called Buffalo Blues), ‘Purdido Blues’, ‘When You’re Smiling’, ‘Royal Garden Blues’ and finished with ‘So Do I’.  Who knew there were so many tunes under the title ‘blues’!!!  Altogether a very good concert which was well received.   We look forward to their next visit.

2 February 2025 – No Concert

Warren “Lonnie” James’ Skiffle Band – 26 January 2025:  With Warren James (leader) on guitar, banjo and vocals, were Jim “Lord” Swinnerton on bass, “Baby” Jools Aldridge on drums, Mike Owen on trombone and Malcolm Thorne on guitar (playing for Stafford Jazz Society for the first time).  They opened with ‘Buddy Better Get On Down The Line’, ‘Hard Travelling’, ‘Keep On The Sunny Side Of Life’, ‘Won’t You Bring Me A Little Water Sylvie’, ‘In Them Cotton Fields’, ‘Wreck Of Old 97’, ‘My Bitsy Darlin’, ‘Take My Hand Precious Lord’, ‘Jesse James Had A Wife’, ‘Steam Line Trains’, ‘Gonna Ride Old Railroad Bill’, ‘I’m Not Gonna Be Treated This-a-way’, ‘Cumberland Gap’, ‘Lost John’, Rocks In My Bed’, ‘Blues Stop Knocking At My Door’, ‘It Takes A Worried Man’, ‘Have A Drink On Me’, ‘Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It’s Flavour’, ‘Freight Train’, ‘Goin’ Down The Road Feeling Bad’ and finally ‘Rock Island Line’.  Yes, there were certainly a lot of trains today …!  The audience were singing along and indeed leapt to their feet to applaud at the end of the concert.  We so look forward to seeing them back again soon. 

Matt Palmer’s Gatsby Go-Getters – 19 January 2025:  With Matt Palmer (leader) on reeds and vocals, Joe Nutman on Ragtime Piano, Dave Leithead on trumpet and vocals, Al Harris on string bass and vocals and Nick Ward on vintage percussion we knew we were in safe hands.  They opened with ‘Lover Come Back to Me’, and went on with ‘The Downtown Strutters Ball’, ‘Our Love Is Here To Stay’, ‘Stringport Stomp’, ‘Love is the Sweetest Thing’, ‘Vo De Dodio Blues’, ‘My Baby Just Cares For Me’, ‘Varsity Drag’, ‘Crazy Rhythm’, ‘It Aint No Sin To Take Off Your Skin And Dance Around In Your Bones’ (only in jazz would you find a title like that!), ‘Is You Is Or Is You Aint My Baby’, ‘Paddling Madeline Home’, ‘When You Wish Upon A Star’, ‘Sunday’, ‘Pink Swans’ (a solo from Joe Nutman), ‘Everybody Loves My Baby’, ‘St Louis Blues’, ‘Charleston’, and closed with ‘Goodnight Sweetheart’.  Lovely music, lovely programme, no wonder people left with big smiles on their faces.

Trudgeon’s Trad Jazz Troubadors – 12 January 2025:  This band was new to Stafford Jazz Society so it was with much pleasure that we looked forward to hearing them play.  The band consists of Joseph Trudgeon (leader) on guitar and vocals, Alan Bacon on trumpet, Mike Owen on trombone,. Mike Kennedy on bass, Andy Leggett on reeds and “Baby” Jools Aldridge on drums.  They opened with ‘Algiers Strut’ and continued with ‘Old Fashioned Love’, ‘I’ve Got A New Baby’, ‘Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams’, ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’, ‘When You and I Were Young Maggie’, ‘’Dr Jazz’, ‘September’, ‘Wabash Blues’, ‘If You’ve Never Been To New Orleans’, ‘Tiger Rag’, ‘When You Grow Too Old To Dream’, ‘The Washington and Lee Swing’, ‘Once I Married A Tattooed Lady’ (completely new to me but fun) and ‘Royal Garden Blues’.  We look forward to having them back to play for us again at some time in the future.

Golden Eagle Jazz Band – 5 January 2025:  It was good to see and hear the Golden Eagle again.  This band, which plays New Orleans jazz, is made up of Kevin Scott (lead) on tenor banjo and vocals (and humour), Ray Bowden on drums, Richard Church on cornet and vocals, Brian Butler on trombone and John Sirett on double bass.  They opened with ‘On the Road To Home Sweet Home’ and went on with ‘Mother’s Gone, Goodbye’, ‘The Roses of Picardy’, ‘Moose March’, ‘Give  Me That Old Time Religion’, ‘The Streets of the City, ‘After You’ve Gone’, ‘The Highways Are Happy Ways’, ‘In The Good Old Summertime’, ‘Tie Me To Your Apron Strings Again’, ‘Bogalusa Strut’, ‘My Old Sal’, ‘Louisiana Fairytale’, ‘In The Shade of The Old Apple Tree’ and finished with ‘Laissez Le Bon Temps Rouler’ (Let The Good Times Roll in English).  What a great programme played beautifully by five talented musicians.  I am sure we will see them again.