Stafford Jazz Society

This year has gone well for Stafford Jazz Society. The groups have been in tremendous form and
audiences are growing week by week.

January saw Apex Jazz & Swing Band, the JB Jazz &
Blues Band, George Huxley’s Hot Five and the Old Fashioned Love Band. Tiggy’s kitchen branched out to include chips
in the goodies available to buy – what a treat when the weather is cold.

Martin showing off his wares

February saw the
reappearance of the ever popular Swingin’ Jim’s Dance Band. Annie Hawkins Jazzmen is always a welcome
sight on the stage and Martin Bennett’s Swamplanders played with a vigour which
belied their age. Matt Palmer’s
Millennium Eagle Jazz Band saw February draw to a close.

Everybody joins in the Brolly Parade (Ken Probert showing his
mobile brolly skills)

March brought us Steve King Big Band, Funky Butt Hall
N’Awlins Jazzband (don’t you just love the way you say N’Awlins … it is only
the uninitiated that call it New Orleans!), Eric “Busker’ Newton’s Willys
Weepers. Chris Pearce’s Frenchmen Street Jazz Band and The Phoenix Jazzmen.

Tables had been decorated with vases of daffodils in honour
of Mothering Sunday so the room looked unusually bright and cheerful.

Chris Carmell’s Vintage Jazz Band – an Easter Treat

Eric "Busker” Newton’s Willy’s Weepers

April brought Chris Carmell’s Vintage Jazz Band, and Mart
Rodger Manchester Jazz and Jeff Milner’s Delta Friends. Again for Easter the tables held vases of
spring flowers and some had even brought along Easter bonnets for the brolly
parade. The second evening concert of
the season was taken by New Orleans Heat on 26 May.