27 September 2025 – The Harlem Jazz Orchestra: What a band – what a concert – smashing! Bob Hunt (leader) was on trombone, Mike Henry on cornet, Wil Robinson and Charlie Manning on trumpet, Graham Woodhouse on valve trombone, Zoltan Sagi on clarinet and alto sax, Richard Exall on clarinet, alto sax and baritone sax, Art Toper on piano, John Irwin on guitar and banjo, Tomas Pederson on bass, John Watson on drums and Sarah Spencer was vocalist and compere. They opened with ‘King Kong’, and went on with ‘Harlem Romance’, ‘I Never Knew’, ‘Passing Time’, ‘Sweet and Lovely’, ‘’Leven-Thirty Saturday Night’, ‘Dinah’, ‘You’re Lucky To Me’, ‘Memories of Mish (short for Michelle)’, ‘Manchester Court’, ‘Have You Changed?’, ‘The Town Town Camp Meeting’, ‘Harlem Bound’, ‘Balti Nights in Birmingham’, ‘Mystery Song’, ‘Empty Chair’, ‘After You’ve Gone’, ‘When’, ‘Keep A Song In Your Soul’, ‘When a Black Man’s Blue’ and ‘Swanee Shuffle’. This orchestra goes from strength to strength with authentic jazz classics from the 20s and 30s. They rightly received a standing ovation. We look forward to seeing them back with us again soon.
21 September 2025 – Chicago Teddybears Society Jazz Band: How lovely to see this favourite band back at the White Eagle Club. The line-up remains the same with leader, Rae Owens, on banjo/guitar/ukulele and vocals, Brian Singleton on drums, John Padfield on reeds, Jim Lucas on trumpet and baritone, Andy MacKenzie on trombone and vocals and Deano Revera on string bass. This is New Orleans-based Dixieland jazz laced with a lot of good humour. They opened with ‘Bourbon Street Parade’ and continued with ‘Hindustan’, ‘Savoy Blues’, ‘Gate-Mouth’, ‘Everybody Loves My Baby but My Baby Don’t Love Nobody But Me’, ‘Just a Little While To Stay’, ‘Bye Bye Blackbird’ (played on the string bass with good effect), ‘Milenburg Joys’, ‘When You And I Were young Maggie’, ‘Ain’t Misbehaving’, Strutting With Some BBQ’, ‘Blues My Naughty Sweetie’, ‘The Old Rugged Cross’, ‘Honeysuckle Rose’, ‘Sunday’, High Society’ and finishing with ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’. Feet tapping, many singing along to their favourites and an ovation at the end – doesn’t get any better.
14 September 2025 – Lazy River Festival Jazz Band: This is the first time this band has played for us at the White Eagle Club, other some of them have appeared with other bands from time to time. Chris Perrin on clarinet and saxophone is leader, Veronica Perrin on cornet, vocals and an amazing wind instrument called the melodia, Phil Ruthergford on sousaphone, Brian Mellor on banjo and guitar, John Penn on piano, Richard Leach on trombone and Nick Ward on percussion make up this lively band. Their opening number was ‘Why Don’t You Go To New Orleans’, followed by ’Canal Street Blues’, ‘Mama’s Gone – Goodbye’, ‘Let The Light in The Lighthouse Shine On Me’, ‘Savoy Blues’, ‘Corazon’ (and sung in Spanish with a beautiful accent), ‘I Never Knew’ and the first half ended with ‘It Ain’t No Sin To Take Off Your Skin and Dance About In Your Bones’. Second half was equally good with ‘You Meet The Nicest People In Your Dreams’, ‘Some Day Sweetheart’, ‘Some Of These Days’, ‘Tiger Rag’, ‘My Dear Mr Shane’, ‘Out Of Nowhere’, ‘Ham and Eggs’ and ‘We’ll Meet Again’. And maybe we just might.
7 September 2025 – Trudgeon’s Trad Jazz Troubadors: What a lovely opening band. With Joseph Trudgeon on guitar as their leader and James Guilford on trumpet, Mike Kennedy on bass, Hugh Roberts on reeds and Nick Ward on percussion they presented a programme to please everyone in the room. Their opening number was ‘Apex Blues’ and this was followed in no particular order by ‘Dear Old Girl’, ‘Sweet Georgia Brown’, ‘Oh How I Miss You Tonight’, ‘Strutting With Some Barbecue’, ‘St Louis Blues’, ‘Dream Your Troubles Away’, ‘The Tattooed Lady’, ‘I’ve Found A New Baby’, ‘All I Do The Whole Day Through Is Dream Of You’, ‘When My Dreamboat Comes Home’, ‘The Royal Garden Blues’ and they ended with ‘Dr Jazz’. This cross-generational combo brings old and new generations of jazz musicians together. Their repertoire is from the 1920s to the 1940s. The room was in full jazz mode and enjoyed every last minute of this concert. We look forward to seeing them again at some point in 2026.