Second Half of the Season

How lovely it was to start the second half
of the season with a band as good as Robin Mason’s Apex Jazz & Swing
Band.   After weeks of jazz starvation
this was the equivalent of gourmet fine dining.
The mix of jazz and swing works so well and from where I sat I saw heads
nodding and shoulders swinging.

The opening number of ‘You are my Sunshine’
was an inspired choice for the Chase Jazzmen with snow and ice outside.  The selection throughout the programme was
good and the tempo ranged through fast, bosa nova to slow.  The band was well received.

Jazz Buddies with Arthur Brown and Matt
Palmer gave a first-class performance on 24 January with a good mix of music to
make your toes tap.  The musicians played
smoothly together.  I would like to
especially mention the trombonist, Mike Owen, who was so good.  Singing was undertaken in the main by Matt
Palmer (reeds) with his usual style.  A
rhythym section consisting of Brian Mellor, Dennis Mowatt and Tim Jones
completed the band.

On 31 January it was the turn of Bear Town
Stompers.  This band was originally
formed to play in a Jazz & Blues Festival but is now a well established
band performing easy-going, traditional jazz.
I thought from time to time it had a gentle quality to the music which
is so often missing.  Long time member,
Jill Dodds, presented the SJS Musician of the Year Trophy to Peter ‘Pedro’
Robinson at the conclusion of the first half.

February 7th saw our first visit by Jake
Leg Jug Band with Mike Pemberton (trombone).
Neil Hulse played guitar and offered up vocal renditions, Esther Brennan
on washboard and ukelele also sang, and there were Toby Wilson on banjo and
dobro and Duncan Wilcox on double bass, all joining in with the vocals.  Now this was something different … not only a
band comprising fairly young musicians but with a distinct southern
influence.  It was a real treat for the
ears with a refreshingly different repertoire.

The Old Fashioned Love Band visited again
on 14 February.  As always the band
played with such verve and musicality they were the joy we have all come to
expect.   Their music was a wide range of
foot-taping jazz standards and the band featured, Mike Pemberton, Harry
Forelius, Jake Reeves and Mo Green.
Wonderful.

Annie Hawkins Funky Butt Hall Jazzband made
a welcome appearance on 21 February.
Annie brought with her an all-star band to match her smiling
talents.  The band consisted of Michael
Hogarth on piano, Bob Rowbotham on banjo, Barry Wood on Drums, Liz Bacon on
clarinet, Pete Wright on cornet and Jeff Milner on trombone.  As always this concert was well received.

Last concert in February saw the Frog
Island Jazz Band with us.  This band
plays classic and authentic New Orleans-style music from the 1920s and
1930s.  The band has been awarded the
accolade ‘International Honorary Citizens of New Orleans’ and when you hear
them you understand why.

March’s first concert was Matt Palmer’s
Millennium Eagle Jazz Band.  This band continually
attracts high ratings and Stafford SJS are always pleased to see them.  Baby Jools on drums was a treat, as was Brian
Lawrence on double bass and sousaphone, Pete Brown on cornet, Terry Williams on
trombone and Brian Mellor on banjo.  Many
smiling faces left the club at the end of this show.

On 13 March there was an appearance by The
Sopranos, featuring Chris Pearce and Andy Leggett.  This band has recently been formed by these
two top reedsmen.  The rest of the band
consisted of Dave Deakin on trombone, Ken Wright on drums, Tony Sharpe on
double bass and Phil Probert on Guitar.
Best summed up as easy listening by such competent musicians.

Last week was the turn of Wabash
Jazzmen.  With Mike Challinor on banjo
& guitar, Mike Pemberton on trombone, Mike Hayler on reeds, Richard Vernon
on string bass and Pete Ange on trumpet this band gave a performance to knock
your socks off.  Come back soon, please.

The are jazzmen who blow

And others who bash

They do it for bucks

And they do it for cash.

They love the applause

And the moments of glory

But sometimes forget

The whole point of the story.

It’s the music that matters

And the good folk who strive

Without praise, without profit

To keep it alive.

So let’s drink a toast

‘May the god of jazz bless

My friend Mr Balmforth

And the old SJS’.

A poetic message
to Stafford Jazz Society

from the Society’s President

Band Leader and Jazz Broadcaster

Mel Hill

2015 in pictures

On 25 October we had another chance to see
and hear the Chicago Teddybears Society Jazz Band.  Despite roadworks on the road approaching the
White Eagle Club, nothing stopped the audience from pouring in for this
concert.   Not surprisingly they were the
winner of the Band of the year Trophy Award, and were presentd with their
awards by Jenni and Ian D’Arcy.

1st November gave us Baby Jools & The
Jazzaholics.   There was an exciting
programme of music with good pace.   Baby
Jools is a virtuoso drummer and a bright star in New Orleans style jazz in the
UK.   The fact that this was an evening
programme might account for a smaller than anticipated audience.  However those of us present enjoyed a super
night of jazz.

Brian Carrick’s Algiers Stompers played on
8 November.  This is a fine bunch of
musicians and Brian Carrick not only plays the sax but has a pretty good voice
too.

The talented Matt Palmer was with us once
more on 15 November with his Aces of Rhythm.
This group specialised in reviving jazz from the 1920s and so brings
little known music to a modern audience.

22 November gave us Ron Hills’ Swing Kings with
Terry Roberts on reeds, Roger Heeley on keyboard, Roy Dutton on drums, Denis
Mowatt on double bass, Dave Leithead on trumpet and Ron Hills on trombone.  Just in case you were wondering, the little
white ghost centre stage is Roy Dutton!

Sadly I missed the JB Jazz & Blues Band
on 29 November,due to another commitment on the same day.  Groan!
They are such a good band and give a wonderful performance.  Which leads us into December.  On 6th we had the Phoenix Jazzmen with Sheila
Fawkes.  My word can that little lady
sing.  She has one of the best jazz
voices around.  See picture below.

The last band of the year, on 6 December,
was Bev Pegg & His Good Time Jazz Gang.
Again sadly I missed this so cannot report on it from my own personal
view.  However I understand that they
went down a storm.

My final picture of the year shows  Gill Dodds being presented with the SJS
Member of the Year Trophy.   Jill has
been coming to the jazz for a long time.
This year health problems meant that she had to miss quite a few
shows.   I am delighted to report she has
made a good recovery and was so surprised and delighted to be nominated for the
Award.   Seen hers presenting the trophy
is our Vice-Chairman and Membership Secretary, Shirley Ollier.

We will be back for the first gig on 10
January with Robin Mason’s Apex Jazz & Swing Band.  Looking forward to it already.

Cruising on the Rhine…

20 members of our Club spent a wonderful week in
Germany cruising on the Rhine and Moselle with the J&B Jazz and Blues Band.
Lovely autumn weather, magical scenery and an atmosphere that got everybody
dancing night after night made our week on the ship to a delightful experience.

Plans for a follow up next year were immediately
voiced.

If you are interested please contact Veronica
(v.kothbauer@gmail.com)  

Autumn Season at Stafford Jazz Society

There was a little confusion regarding the
first concert of the season, Chris Pearce’s Frenchmen Street Jazz Band, as we
thought it would be a lunchtime gig and it ended up as an evening concert due
to the darts.  We did try to spread the
word as far and wide as possible but the audience was perhaps not as full as it
might have been.  However that made no
difference to the sheer enjoyment of this group, who played their socks off.

Next came Matt Palmer’s Millennium Eagle
Jazz Band and it is always a pleasure to hear Matt, who is one of the UK’s
brightest jazz talents.   On 20 September
we heard Original Panama Jazz Band who had a good repertoire with numbers old
and new.  They played with gusto and
skill, along with the odd joke, and time simply flew past.   The last concert in September was Chris
Carmell’s Vintage Jazzmen with their 20’s style jazz.

The first band in October was the Savannah
Jazz Band (see picture below).   Along
with a good programme they kept up a steady stream of humorous comments and
reminiscences.  There was amazing mouth
organ playing by the reeds player, Bill Smith, which was absolute heaven.

On 11 October it was a delight 5to see
Carole Westwood, newly married, back on our stage.  She was accompanied by a trio of musicians
(John Evans on saxophone, Robert Armstrong on drums and John Evans on
keyboard).  There were several pieces
during the gig with a shoulder-twitching upbeat.  By golly could that John Evans play.

image

On 17 October we welcomed Kevin Grenfell’s
Jazz Giants.   This was good music with
everything from mood music to boogie woogie, all played with consummate
skill.   There were jokes a plenty from
Kevin.  What a programme.  As always the audience showed their
appreciation with a standing ovation.

image

I could not help putting the following picture
in.  On 17 October it was Heather’s
birthday.  Heather is a regular supporter
and here she lead the way in the umbrella parade at a gallop.