Baby Jools’ Jazzaholics – 26 May 2024: We are fortunate indeed to have, for our last concert, ‘Baby’ Jools’ Jazzaholics. This lovely band consists of ‘Baby’ Jools Adridge (leader) on drums, ‘Lord’ Jim Swinnerton on string bass, Warren ‘Lonnie’ James on banjo, guitar and vocals, Karl Hird on reeds, Mike ‘Magic Henry’ on trumpet and cornet and Mike Owen on trombone and vocals. They opened with ‘Old Spinning Wheel in the Parlour’ and went on to play ‘A Walk In The Park’, ‘Hindustan’, ‘Sleepy Time Down South’, ‘Since I Laid My Burden Down’, ‘Who’s Sorry Now’, ‘Jambalaya’, ‘One Of These Days’, ‘Basin Street Blues’, ‘Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor’ (aka Atlanta Blues), ‘Old Riley’, ‘Railroad Bill’, ‘Tin Roof Blues’, ‘Panama’ and finishing with ‘Those Were The Days’. Well, what more could you ask for, truly representative of New Orleans and sending everyone in the audience home with memories of a truly great concert.
No Concert – 19 May 2024:
Jeff Barnhart’s International Swing Quartet – 12 May 2024: It was a hugh pleasure to see this quartet back on stage. The quartet consisted of Jeff Barnhart (leader) on piano and vocals, Anne Barnhart on flute and vocals, Graham Smith on drums and John Hallam on reeds. Such a mixture of music from piano rag to the wonderfully poignant and haunting farewell to soldiers who lost their lives during WWII. They opened with ‘Avalon’ and went on with the following numbers: ‘It’s Only A Paper Moon’, ‘Lady Be Good’, ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’, ‘Stealing Apples’, ‘I Cover The Waterfront’, ‘I Got Rhythm’, ‘The Blues’ (a piano solo), ‘This Can’t Be Love’, ‘Dr Jazz’, ‘Ashokan Farewell’, ‘Bei Mir Bist Du Shein’, ‘Ohio 1903’, ‘High Society’, ‘Isle of Capri’ and ending with ‘Crazy River’. The room was on it’s feet at the conclusion of the concert and we all look forward to their return.
Kevin Grenfell & Richard Leach Slide by Slide – 5 May 2024: What a joy it was to listen once more to one of SJS’s favourite bands, Slide by Slide. With Richard Leach (leader) on trombone, Kevin Grenfell on trombone, trumpet, vocals and jokes, Mike Green on string bass, Richard Hughes on piano and ‘Baby’ Jools Aldridge on drums they received a standing ovation at the conclusion of their concert. They opened with ‘Strike Up The Band’, and went on with ‘Give Me A Kiss To Build A Dream On’, ‘No Moon At All’, ‘It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie’, ‘Moonglow’, ‘My Little Suede Shoes’, ‘I’m Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter’, ‘Indiana’, ‘Mood Indigo’, ‘Georgie Girl’, ‘Bad Penny Blues’, ‘Girl Of My Dreams’, ‘China Town My China Town’ and finishing with ‘Bye Bye Blackbird’. Great stuff. Looking forward to hearing them again soon.
From this …..
to this. How wonderful to see the room so full of all of our regulars who have supported us throughout the season
