29 September 2024 – Keith Little Swing Four: This was the band’s debut in Staffordshire and we welcomed Keith Little – impresario and pianist, Donnie Joe Sweeney on bass and vocals, Gethin Liddington on trumpet and vocals and Greg Evans on drums – all the way from Wales. Their music was 30s/40s jazz and swing with some American Songbook included for good measure. Their opening number – ‘After You’re Gone’, ‘Tea For Two’, ‘A Kiss To Build A Dream On’, ‘Some Day You’ll Be Sorry’, ‘Just Squeeze Me’, ‘China Town’, ‘Night And Day You Are The One’, ‘Pick Yourself Up’, ‘Strutting At The BBQ’, ‘Honeysuckle Rose’, On The Sunny Side Of The Street’, ‘Keeping Out Of Mischief Now’, ‘The Polish Boogie’, ‘Memories Of You’, ‘Calypso Joe’ and ending with ‘Take The A Train’. Good musicians and I am sure we will see them back at the White Eagle Club at some point in the near future.
22 September 2024 – Dart Valley Stompers: What a lovely band today with Richard Leach (leader) on the trombone and vocals, Tony Pipkin on trumpet and vocals, Vic Partridge on banjo + guitar and vocals, Steve Street on drums and Matt Palmer on reeds and vocals. A sextet of quality, although sadly without the man himself, Jeremy Huggett – who’s funeral takes place on 1 October. They opened with ‘Algiers Stomp’ and went on with ‘My Blue Heaven’, ‘Basin Street Blues’, ‘Roses of Piccardy’, ‘Give Me A Kiss To Build A Dream On’, ‘China Boy’, ‘Dinah’ and ‘China Town My China Town’ in the first half and ‘The Bugle Boy March’, ‘Ain’t She Sweet’, ‘It Had To Be You’, ‘Sunday’, ‘Just A Closer Walk With Thee’, ‘I Want A Big Butter And Egg Man’, ‘Some Day You’ll Be Sorry’, ‘I’ll See You In My Dreams’ and ending with ‘Hindustan’. The band told us that Kevin Grenfell could not be with them today as he was in Denmark and tribute was paid to all the work Kevin had done in ensuring all concerts with Jeremy in continued playing at venues booked in his honour. Our thanks were passed on both to the band for playing under such emotional stress and we asked that our thanks to Kevin for all his work be passed on.
15 September 2024 – Sarah Spencer’s Transatlantic Band featuring Jesper Capion Larsen (Denmark): There was a hugh welcome back to Sarah Spencer and her band as one of the most popular in the SJS calendar of gigs. Sarah, on the saxophone and vocals, is the leader of the band. In addition there was Mike Owen on trombone, “Magic” Mike Henry on cornet, Graham Smith on drums, Howard Worthington on double bass, Brian Mellor on banjo and Jesper Capion Larsen on a visit from Denmark on the clarinet. Normally at this point I would tell you all the different numbers they played but I confess I was so busy on the day that I can name only four or five: ‘First Choice’, ‘It’s Nights Like That’, ‘Sleepy Time Down South’, ‘The Yellow Dog Blues’ and ‘Smile’ (from Who Framed Roger Rabbit). That does not detract from the great music we heard that lunchtime and hopefully next week it will be back on normal scribing duties. We look forward to seeing this band again.
8 September 2024 – Jeff & Anne Barnhart (USA) present “AA’s Road Atlas to Jazz”: It was a warm welcome back to SJS for Jeff and Anne, together with Thomas “Spats” Langham on his banjo and guitar and a new addition, Amy Roberts (reeds player), it was noted, played with Chris Barber in the day. They opened with ‘Bye Bye Blues’ and went on with ‘Old Fashioned Love in My Heart’, ‘I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter’, ‘Careless Love’, ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’ and ‘Shine’. In the second half they gave us ‘High Society’, ‘Summertime and the Living Is Easy’, ‘Sweet Sue’, ‘The Curse of An Aching Heart’, ‘I Got Rhythm’, ‘Undecided’ and ‘Black Orpheus’. A welcome addition was a collaboration between Nick Balmforth and Jeff Barnhart entitled ‘Same Differences’, a little number showing how although we speak the same language in the USA and the UK things aren’t always duplicated. Throughout the whole there were jokes, comments, bits of history and all in all a most wonderful show – almost a cabaret rather than a simple gig.
1 September 2024 – Baby Jools’ Jazzaholics: Not only did we end the season for 23/24 with this group but we start the new 24/25 season with them. I am pleased to say nothing has changed; Baby Jools is still the band leader on drums, Howard Worthington on string bass and vocals, Warren “Lonnie” James on guitar/banjo and vocals, “Magic” Mike Henry on trumpet/cornet, Karl Hird on reeds and Richard Leach on trombone and vocals. Their opening number was ‘The Old Spinning Wheel in the Parlour’ and this was followed by ‘Hindustan’, ‘ Blue Turning Grey Over You’, ‘Jambalaya’, ‘Burgundy Street Blues’, ‘Some of These Days’, ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’, ‘Sleepy Time Down South’, ‘Dr Jazz’, ‘Who’s Sorry Now’, ‘Railroad Bill’, ‘Jesse James’, ‘Goin’ Home’, ‘Royal Garden Blues’ and ending with ‘That’s a Plenty’. Good programme, good playing, good balance – what a lovely concert.