The final show, on 18 December, was the Firehose 1 Dixieland
Jazz Band. They set the room on fire
with their fire-fighting uniform and music.
Dave Leighead led on trumpet with Dave Dixon on reeds, Richard Slater on
trombone and sousaphone, Peter “Pedro” Robinson on banjo and guitar,
Denis Goodwin on drums and Malcolm Hogarth on keyboard.
Following the first half of the concert there was a presentation
when the Member of the Year Award was passed by holder for 2016, Gill Dodd, to
elected member, Joan Latham, who will be Member of the Year for 2017. Congratulations to Joan.
Thanks from the entire SJS are going to Shirley Ollier for
the beautiful Christmas table decorations.
The room looked lovely with little candle lights twinkling set on
festive tables with red and green napkins.
The penultimate concert in 2016 was by JB Jazz & Blues
Band. The band, with the addition of Ed
Miller who replaced Mark Howell who sadly died earlier in the year, brought
with it the “feel good” factor always associated with this band. Other members of the band were John Beckingham
on keyboard, Roger Mainwaring and Andy Loverage on reeds, Phil Probert on
guitar and banjo and Paul Holder on drums.
(Photo pending)
The beginning of December saw Matt Palmer’s Millennium Eagle
Jazz Band. This band always receives a
consistently high rating from SJS members.
The all star line-up was welcomed with Matt Palmer lead virtuoso
reedsman, Terry Williams on the trombone, Pete Brown playing trumpet &
valve trombone, Baby Jools on drums, Brian Lawrence on double bass and Brian
Mellor on banjo.
Chris Carmell’s Vintage Jazzmen came on 20 November. Especially remembered at this concert was the
late and greatly missed Clinton Sedgley.
Sadly I had no camera with me on this day and so no photograph was
taken. I promise to do better!
At the end of November we had Chris Pearce & Andy
Leggett’s Sopranos. This was a
marvellous programme by a marvellous band.
They have acquired a new trombonist, explaining that they needed a
younger person to do all the lifting and carrying!! I was particularly taken with a number called
‘In My Darkest Hour’, something slightly outside the general repertoire and a
surprisingly cheerful number, given the title.
On 13 November we had Ron Hills’ Swing Kings with Ron Hills
on trombone, Tony Pipkin on trumpet and flugelhorn, Roger Heely, piano, Terry
Roberts on reeds with Roy Dutton on drums, Denis Mowatt on bass and again we
welcomed young Richard Hughes on keyboard.
These are seriously good musicians and the band was well received at the
White Eagle Club.
The start of November saw Kevin Grenfell’s Jazz Giants. They played snappy, catchy music from the
start but followed by a range of compositions.
Richard Hughes was a welcome addition on keyboard. I was once told to keep a close eye on the
keyboard player as only very accomplished musicians used both hands, and this
young man’s hands were everywhere. The
rest of the band consisted of Kevin Grenfell on trumpet and trombone, Matt
Palmer on reeds, Baby Jools on drums and Wayne Elliott on base guitar.
The last concert in October was Carole Westwood’s
Sophisticated Swing. We have not seen
Carole for some time as she has been over in Australia. Carole, as always, was in good voice and we
are pleased she is back in England. The
music was varied but always with a beat to it.
Some fabulous numbers were played by the Band, including Caravan and (my
favourite!) My Baby Just Cares for Me.
There was John Evans on keyboard, Terry Roberts on saxes and Roger
Armstrong on drums.
On 23 October the SJS welcomed back the Chicago Teddybears
Society Jazz Band to help celebrate the SJS Anniversary. What a cracking good band this is and the
crowd that turned out spoke for itself.
Heads were nodding, feet were tapping and all enjoyed the music played
by this band of high class musicians.
Come back soon we all say.
