Being the last gig of the season a brolly parade took place. Thanks to all who made the season such a brilliant one – Nick Balmforth (Chairman), all the bar staff, Lisa Perry and her helpers in Sunset Café, and especially all the jazzers who have supported and enjoyed the programme throughout.
31 May 2026 – “Baby” Jools’ Jazzaholics: Today Jools (leader and drummer) was joined by Mark Challinor on banjo/ukulele and vocals, Mike “Magic” Henry on cornet, Simon smith on bass, Ian Bateman on trombone and Richard Exall on reeds. What a great line-up. The opening number was ‘The Old Spinning Wheel In The Parlour’ which was followed by ‘Dinah’, ‘Down In New Orleans’, ‘Let The Light Of The Lighthouse Shine On Me’, ‘Muskrat Ramble’, ‘Till There Was You’, ‘Some Of These Days’ and for the second half we had ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’, ‘Let’s All Go Down To New Orleans’, ‘It Ain’t No Sin To Take Off Your Skin And Dance Around In Your Bones’, ‘Give Me A Kiss To Build A Dream On’, ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’, ‘Dr Jazz’, ‘Black And Blue’ and ending with ‘That’s A Plenty’. There was instantaneous jumping to the feet to give thanks for a belting concert. And to top it all Baby Jools will be back again to open the season from September 2026!!
24 May 2026 – Three Bears Jazz Band: Some changes in the band resulted in Tom Kincaid (leader) on the piano, John Hallam on reeds, “Lord” Jim Swinnerton on bass and Stuart Smith on drums. They opened with ‘Dinah’ and continued with ‘Ain’t Misbehaving’, ‘Just A Little While To Stay Here’, ‘Ain’t She Sweet’, ‘When You’re Smiling’, ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’, ‘Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans’ and ‘It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing’. After this cracking first half we were treated to ‘I’ve Got A New Baby’, ‘Keeping Out Of Mischief Now’, ‘Dr Jazz’, ‘Water From An Ancient Well’ (such a delight), ‘The Sheik of Araby’, ‘Oh! Lady Be Good’ and finishing with ‘St Thomas’. The audience were on their feet with a most well-deserved standing ovation. We will be delighted to see this group again.
17 May 2026 – Original Panama Jazz Band: With leader Jon Crutchley on trumpet we had John Wallasey on reeds, Andrew MacKenzie on trombone and vocals, Isabel Toner on string bass, Bill Buck on drums and Peter ‘Pedro’ Robinson on guitar and banjo giving us a sextet of musicians. They started with ‘Too Busy’ and went on with ‘Deed I Do’, ‘Rose Room’, ‘Satin Doll’, ‘Black & Tan Fantasy’, ‘Canal Street Blues’, ‘S’Wonderful’ and ‘Since You First Came My Way’. The second half, just as good, was ‘China’ – played by Pete Robinson on his banjo, ‘Midnight in Moscow’, ‘China Town My China Town’, ‘Tangerine’, ‘I Love Paris’, ‘High Society’, ‘Sleepy Time Down South’, Arcadia Stomp’ and ‘Muskrat Ramble’. Good music, some joking, lots of happy faces. I am sure we will see them again.
10 May 2026 – Slide by Slide: This group comprises Kevin Grenfell (leader) on trombone, occasional trumpet and vocals, Richard Leach on trombone, Richard Hughes on keyboard, Simon Smith on string bass and Steve Street on drums. They opened up with ‘Strike Up The Band’ and went on to play – in no particular order – ‘Mean To Me’, ‘No Moon At All’, ‘Turkish March’ (keyboard feature), ‘Georgie Girl’, ‘Berkeley Square’, ‘Way Back Home In Indiana’, ‘When You’re Smiling’, ‘Tea for Two’, ‘Mood Indigo’, ‘China Town’, ‘Girl of My Dreams’, ‘Little Suede Shoes’, ‘Do You Know What It Means’, ‘Sway’ and finished, as always with this band, with ‘Bye Bye Blackbird’. Great band, great concert, much satisfaction on faces all around the room. Look forward to seeing them again before too long.
3 May 2026 – Hugh Crozier’s Incomparables: With Hugh Crozier (leader) at the keyboard there are Paul Taylor on trombone, “Magic” Mike Henry on cornet, Paula Jackman on reeds and “Lord” Jim Swinnerton on double bass. A great line-up. The opening number is ‘Ace In The Hole’ and going on with ‘Mary’, ‘New Wang Wang Blues’, ‘Give Me A Kiss To Build A Dream On’, ‘The Jones Law Blues’, ‘That, Too, Do’, ‘Keeping Out Of Mischief Now’, ‘Blue Blood Blues’ and then ‘Irish Black Bottom’ completes the first half. In the second half there is ‘Dippermouth Blues’, ‘Margie’, ‘Midnight Mama’, ‘Si Tu Vois Ma Mere’, ‘Pearls’, ‘SOL Blues’, ‘Sheik of Araby’, ‘Once In A While’ and the final number ‘’Wild Cat Blues’. This concert was well received and we do so look forward to their return visit in the next season.