Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band – 24 September 2023: How lovely to see Sarah back with her Transatlantic Band. There was an addition to the usual suspects this time (Mike Owen on trombone, Mike “Magic” Henry on trumpet, “Lord” Jim Swinnerton on string bass, Hugh Crozier on piano and Graham Smith on drums) with Jesper Capion Larsen on clarinet. The session kicked off with ‘Beautiful Ohio’ and continued with some of the following numbers: ‘Bogalusa Strut’, ‘Mecca Flat’, ‘Jelly Roll Blues’ – a lovely solo piano rag, ‘Breeze’, ‘Keep the Red Rag Flying’, ‘Take Me Back to My Boots and Saddle’, ‘Hit it Up’, ‘Pagoda Street Blues’, ‘Let Me Call You Sweetheart’, ‘Give Me A Kiss to Build A Dream On’ and ‘Papa’s Got The Jim Jams’. The audience sprang to their feet at the conclusion of the second half – a good indication that it all went down well with them. Look forward to seeing you back again soon.
Jeff Barnhart’s Swing Sophisticates – 17 September 2023: Two delicious hours of good music and good humour – it just doesn’t get any better. This fabulous foursome played their socks off. The band consisted of Jeff Barnhart on piano, Anne Barnhart on flute, Wil Robinson on trumpet and flugelhorn and Nick Ward on percussion. Vocals were shared amongst them. Some of their numbers included: ‘Avalon’, ‘Somebody Stole My Gal’, ‘Blue Turning Grey Over You’, ‘Bye Bye Blackbird’, ‘Swing Baby Swing’, ‘My Blue Heaven’, ‘Louisiana Fairytale’, ‘Shine’, and ‘It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Aint Got that Swing’. However my new favourites were two I had not heard before – ‘Ashokan Farewell’ and ‘Back Water Blues’, both so beautiful that I could feel tears in my eyes. We look forward to seeing them again.
Chicago Teddy Bears Society Jazzband – 20 September 2023: First concert of the season – and we’re off!! A good attendance saw this traditional New Orleans/Dixieland jazz band with Rae Owens (leader) on banjo and guitar, Brian Singleton on drums, Dean Revera on Bass, Andrew Mackenzie on trombone and vocals, John Padfield on reeds and Jim Lucas on trumpet. Some of the numbers included: ‘When You’re Smiling’, ‘Up A Lazy River’, ‘Do I Love You (Indeed I Do)’, ‘Georgia’, ‘Some of These Days’, ‘S’wonderful’, and an unbelievable Rae Owens doing George Formby and Rae Owens doing George Formby in the style of Johnny Cash – hilarious! Good music, good humour, can there be a better combination … and what a lovely way to start a new season.
No Concert on 3 September 2023 (darts)