29 March 2026 – Golden Eagle Jazz Band: This band consisted of Kevin Scott (leader) on tenor banjo and with vocals, Alan Cresswell (I think and then I wonder if it was him so forgive me if I have got the name wrong), Ray Bowden on drums and vocals, Robin Woolhams on trumpet, Simon Wyld on trombone and John Sirett on double bass. They opened with ‘Mary Wore A Golden Chain’ and continued with ‘I’m Confessing That I Love You’, ‘Over The Waves’ (better known as ‘The Loveliest Night of The Year’), ‘You’re Driving Me Crazy’, ‘Girl Of My Dreams’, ‘Tin Roof Blues’ ‘Bei Mir Bist Du Schon’, ‘Honeysuckle Rose’ and ‘Dr Jazz’. The second half opened with ‘Old Grey Bonnet’ followed by ‘Apple Blossom Time’, ‘Crazy’, ‘The Sheik Of Araby’, ‘Up A Lazy River’, ‘I Pray Every Day We’ll Meet Again’, ‘Dinah’ and last song of the session was ‘A Thousand Goodnights’. This New Orleans-style band met with approval and evident enjoyment. Thank you gentlemen of the band.
22 March 2026 – Richard Hughes’ Trio “Fugue & Groove” featuring Amy Roberts: What a lovely surprise – classical music played in a jazzy way. The band consisted of Richard Hughes (leader) on keyboard, Steve Street on drums and Simon Smith on double bass. To make it even better Amy Roberts on sax, base flute and clarinet joined them for the concert. They started with a medley of Gershwin tunes and went on with ‘Prelude in C Minor’ (Bach), ‘Softly’, ‘Air On A G String’, ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’, ‘Jesu Man’s Desire’, ‘Faure Pavane’, with ‘Humeresque’ rounding off the first half. In the second set they started with ‘Strangers in Paradise’ from Prince Igor, ‘The Man I Love’, ‘Fascinating Rhythm’, ‘Who Could Ask For Anything More (all Gershwin pieces), Chopin’s ‘Imprmptu’, Prelude in E Minor, Puccini’s ‘Nessun Dorma’, Mozart’s ‘Turkish March and ending with ‘After You’ve Gone and Left Me Crying’. What a concert to remember. Fab-u-lous! Look forward to their next visit.
15 March 2026 – Andy Leggett’s Centenary Serenaders: This band was founded by Andy Leggett, a top reeds player and renowned exponent of the Bechet style. Along with Andy the band consists of Gethin Liddington on trumpet, Dave Deakin on trombone, Rachel Hayward on guitar and banjo, Jo Trudgeon on string bass and vocals and Rod Cotterell on drums. They opened with ‘Some of These Days’ and continued with ‘Sweet Emmalina’, ‘Savoy Blues’, ‘Pattes de Mouche’, ‘I Get The Blues When It Rains’, ‘Si Tu Vois Ma Mere’, ‘Aunt Hagar’s Children’s Blues’, ‘At The Jazz Band Ball’ and ‘My Blue Heaven’. In the second half they gave us ‘Ory’s Creole Trombone’, ‘As-Tu Le Cafard’, ‘Poor Papa’, ‘Grizzly Bear Rag’, ‘The Mooch’, ‘Millenberg Joys’, ‘Original Dixieland One-Step’ and finished with the ever popular ‘Petite Fleur’. Smashing band, smashing concert – look forward to seeing them next time.
8 March 2026 – Regeneration Big Band: This is the first time Regeneration has visited Stafford Jazz Society. This 17 piece band, headed by leader and conductor Nigel Ashworth, also has Lydia Rae as their delightful vocalist. They opened with ‘No Pressure’, and went on to play ‘A Gal in Calico’, ‘There’ll Never Be Another You’, ‘Polka Dots and Moonbeams’, ‘Three Landlords And A Guinness’, ‘Can You Read My Mind’ (love theme from Superman), ‘But Not For Me’, ‘Amanda’ and finished the first half with a Folk Song medley. The second half opened with ‘The Carioca’, and continued with ‘I Don’t Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You’, ‘It’s A Most Unusual Day’, ‘Sunday Kind of Love’, ‘There Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens’, ‘I Found A New Baby’, ‘I Won’t Send Roses’, ‘Easy To Love’, ‘At Last’, ‘He Ain’t Heavy He’s My Brother’ and finishing with ‘Mountain Greenery’. Lots of smiling faces and people jumping to their feet. Look forward to seeing them back another time.
1 March 2026 – No Concert