No Concert – 29 December 2024:
Debonaires’ Little Big Band – 22 December 2024: As befits Christmas this was a ‘cracker’ of a concert of traditional festive favourites. The band is made up of Max Debon (leader) on trumpet and vocals, Sarah Eastwood on clarinet and vocals, Austin Ralphson on trombone, Rick Halliwell on alto sax, Anne Holder on tenor sax, Jon Burr on bass, Peter Wilson on piano and Rob Turner on drums. They opened with ‘Sing, Sing, Sing’, and went on to offer ‘Winter Wonder Land’, ‘My Blue Heaven’, ‘God Bless The Child’, ‘Skyliner’, ‘I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus’, ‘Why Don’t You Do Right’, ‘Let It Snow’, ‘You’re Driving Me Crazy’, ‘Frosty The Snowman’, ‘Darktown Strutters Ball’, ‘Here Comes Santa Claus’, ‘I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm’, ‘Don’t Get Around Much Any More’, ‘Baby It’s Cold Outside’, ‘Boogie Blues’, ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’, ‘Bring Me Sunshine’, ‘Santa Baby’, ‘Cool Yule’ and finished with ‘I’m Dreaming Of A White Christmas’. This very festive fare was well received with the audience singing along and a definite feeling of Christmas being just around the corner – which of course it is! Well done Debonaires.
Jake Leg Jug Band – 15 December 2024: This very popular band tends to lean towards the authentic and nostalgic sounds of the USA n the 20s and 30s. Not only do they have instrumental virtuosity but their concert is interspersed with good humour. The band consists of leader, Duncan Wilcox, on double bass and vocals, Liam Ward on washboard, harmonica, jug, saw and kazoo – to name but a few – along with vocals, Warren “Lennie” James on guitar and banjo (sadly no vocals as not able to sing at present), Mike Owen on trombone and Danny Blyth on guitar, mandolin and bass clarinet. They opened with ‘Light From The Lighthouse’, and went on with ‘Some Day You’ll Be Sorry’, ‘Killing Jive’, ‘Fogyism’, ‘I Belong To The Band Allelujah’, ‘The Sale Tax Is On It’, ‘Goodbye Blues’, ‘Just A Closer Walk With Thee’, ‘Sweet Hole’, ‘He’s In The Jailhouse’, ‘The Old Rugged Cross’, ‘Making Whoopee’, ‘Christmas In Jail’, ‘St Louis Blues’, ‘I Just Got Over A Lass’, St James Infirmary’ and rounding the whole thing off with ‘Gloryland’. Such a good concert no wonder the room was on its feet. See you again soon I hope.
Paula Jackman’s Jazz Masters – 8 December 2024: This band consists of Paula Jackman (leader) on clarinet, “Magic” Mike Henry on trumpet, Ian Bates on Trombone, “Lord” Marc Easener on sousaphone, Graham Collicott on drums and Hugh Crozier on keyboard and vocals. The music is Dixieland jazz with its roots in New Orleans around the late 1950s. The opening number was ‘While We Dance At The Mardi Gras’, and this was followed by ‘Got A Brand New Suit’, ‘New Orleans Shuffle’, ‘Hymn To Freedom’, ‘Chilli Bom Bom’, ‘Creole Love Call’, ‘King Porter Stop (a keyboard rag)’, ‘The Fat Man’, ‘Down To New Orleans’, ‘Muskrat Stomp’, ‘Silent Night’, ‘The Birth Of The Blues’, ‘Maryland My Maryland’, ‘Black Bottom’ and rounded off with ’11.30 Saturday Night’. They were much appreciated by the audience of the day and we hope to see them again soon.