22 February 2026 – Matt Palmer’s Gatsby Go-Getters: My my, how smart the band looked with dicky bows and hats and matching waistcoats. How very professional they looked. Playing music mainly classical numbers from the 20s and 30s jazz scene in 1900s it has all the fun and frivolity of a bygone era. Leader, Matt Palmer, plays clarinet, sax and provides vocals, Joe Nutman is their ragtime pianist, Dave Leithead was on trumpet and vocals, Al Harris on string bass and vocals and the incomparable Nick Ward on vintage percussion. They opened with ‘Lover Come Back To Me’ and continued with ‘Varsity Drag’, ‘My Baby Just Cares For Me’, ‘Sunday’, ‘Is You Is Or Is You Ain’t My Baby’, ‘Louisiana’, ‘Love Is The Sweetest Thing’, ‘A Fine Romance’ and ‘Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me’. In the second half we had ‘It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing’, ‘New Orleans Stomp’, When You Wish Upon A Star’, ‘Everybody Loves My Baby’, ‘How Can You Face Me?’, a solo Scott Joplin piece by Joe with ‘The Magnetic Rag’, ‘Vo-Do-Do-De-O Blues’, ‘Am I Blue?’, ‘Charleston’ and finishing with ‘Goodnight Sweetheart. What a great Sunday offering. See you soon chaps.
15 February 2026 – “Baby” Jools’ Jazzaholics: Although musicians change in this band the one thing you can be sure of is that they are always fine musicians – what more can you ask for. “Baby” Jools Aldridge (leader) on the drums, Simon Smith on double bass, Peter Robinson on guitar and banjo, Graham Woodhouse on Saxophone, trombone and vocals, Alan Bateman on trumpet and vocals and his brother, Ian Bateman on trombone. Opening number was ‘Just A Little While To Stay Here’ followed by ‘Isle of Capri’, ‘Some Day Sweetheart’, ‘Panama Rag’, ‘The Old Spinning Wheel’, ‘All The Girls Go Crazy ‘bout The Way I Walk’ and when you’re Smiling’. Good first half and then it got even better with ‘You Always Hurt The One You Love’, Dippermouth Blues’, ‘Maryland’, ‘Yes Sir That’s My Baby’, ‘The Tin Roof Blues’, ‘Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives To Me and ‘That’s A Plenty’. Well done Jools et al – made my Sunday.
8 February 2026 – Jake Leg Jug Band: This band has always produced a programme laiden with authentic nostalgic sounds of America in the ‘20s and ‘30s, all interspersed with good humour. Leader, Duncan Wilcox, plays the double bass and much of the vocals, Warren “Lonnie” James on the guitar, banjo and vocals, Danny Blythe on clarinet, mandolin and harmonica, Gabriel Garrick on trumpet and percussion and finally Mike Owen on trombone. Their first number was ‘Railroad Bill’ and they went on with ‘Some Day You’ll Be Sorry’, ‘Joshua Fit The Battle of Jerico’, ‘Ella Speed’, ‘Sales Tax’, ‘Goodbye Booze’, ‘On The Road Again’, ‘Ezekiel Saw The Wheel’, ‘Just A Closer Walk With Thee’ and ‘Down By The Riverside’. After the interval we had ‘Ain’t Nobody’s Business But My Own’, ‘Buffalo Girls’, ‘I Had To Give Up Gym’, ‘Your Feet’s Too Big, ‘I’m Gonna Walk And Talk To Jesus’, ‘Let The Light from the Lighthouse’, ‘Jake Leg Blues’, ‘Beedle Um Bum’, ‘Muleskinner Blues’ and ending with ‘Gloryland’. Well the whole thing was downright glorious.
1 February 2026 – Fret & Fiddle: With strong, authentic echoes of those iconic gypsy jazz legends – Stephane Grappelli and Django Reinhardt – Stafford Jazz Society always look forward to a visit from this band. Sally Minchin on violin and vocals leads with Shankara Andy Bole on guitar, Richard Hughes on piano and Simon Smith on string bass. They opened with ‘All Of Me’ and followed on with ‘Autumn Leaves’, ‘Dance Me To The End Of Love’, ‘Bossa Dorado’, ‘I’m Ready’, ‘Fleur De Lavende’, ‘2.19 Blues’, ‘I’ve Found A New Baby’, ‘Tchavolo Swing’ and ‘Dark Eyes’. In set two we had ‘Minor Swing’, ‘J’Attendrai’, ‘Misirlou’, ‘Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise’, ‘Ridin’ The Rails’, ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’ and ‘Chocolate Jesus’. My only wish was they had stayed a bit longer and played one of my favourites – ‘Jeeves And Worcester’ – but perhaps next time?