Category Archives: Savannah Jazz Band

Savoy Super Six, 3rd July 2022

It is our pleasure to bring back the ‘Savoy Super Six’ next Sunday, 3rd July 2022. This was previously booked for last February and was for a special tribute to Barry Palser. However, unfortunately our new venue had forgotten about a previous booking for a Christening party. Unfortunately we were cancelled. So Barry, dear friend – this Sunday is for you, a long overdue celebration.

The guys in the band are led by Peter Rudeforth (our second trumpeter of Chris Barber fame – the other one being Mike ‘Magic’ Henry who was with us at our last date). The rest of the front line will be Tim Huskisson on clarinet and Colin Graham on trombone. The ‘engine room’ will be John Stewart on banjo, Andy Lawrence on double bass and John Tyson on drums.

Now I know this will be a storm of a play by these ‘boys’ and no ‘Mother’s Day’ or ‘Father’s Day’, or main holiday, so how about it please, help make it ‘special’ for the band and give them (and us) a full house. Thanks.

Diane and Keith

Barry Palser (with his own band) at Farnborough Jazz Club, 27feb2015

Peter Rudeforth (trumpet) 

 

 

 

 

 

Tim Huskisson

Tim Huskisson

 

 

 

 

 

Colin Graham (trmb) & Brian Gyles 20May20

Smiley John Stewart on Banjo  8th April 2016. 

 

John Tyson drums)  15th July 2016

 Andy Laurence double bass 9th Oct 2015

 

 

Savannah Jazz Band, 27th March 2015

John Meehan, drummer and leader of Savannah Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club on 27th March 2015.  Photo by Mike Witt.

John Meehan, drummer and leader of Savannah Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club on 27th March 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.

Last week, I yelled out (well, in writing)  Hey! JOHN MEEHAN is bringing his SAVANNAH JAZZ BAND back again to our FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB on Friday 27th March 2015. It had been three years since they last visited us, so I said you had better get to the club early, because they are a hugely popular band.  Leader and drummer John, still has BILL SMITH on cornet, ROGER MYERSCOUGH on clarinet, BRIAN ‘SAM’ ELLIS on trombone, TONY POLLITT on bass, although this time, ANDY MAYNARD was on banjo.

Savannah Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club on 27th March 2015.  With Ldr &drums John Meehan, Bill Smith (crnt), Roger Myerscough (clrn), Brian ‘Sam’ Ellis (trmb), Tony Pollitt (bass) & Andy Maynard (bnj). Photo by Mike Witt.

Savannah Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club on 27th March 2015. With Ldr &drums John Meehan, Bill Smith (crnt), Roger Myerscough (clrn), Brian ‘Sam’ Ellis (trmb), Tony Pollitt (bass) & Andy Maynard (bnj). Photo by Mike Witt.

Bill Smith (cornet), Roger Myerscough (clarinet) & Andy Maynard (banjo) of Savannah Jazz Club, Farnborough Jazz Club, 27th March 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.

Bill Smith (cornet), Roger Myerscough (clarinet) & Andy Maynard (banjo) of Savannah Jazz Club, Farnborough Jazz Club, 27th March 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.

And get here early, you did – out of the woodwork. Lovely to see you all, just like the old days (even with some regulars away on holiday). The music was wonderful too.

Roger started the ball rolling with his singing ‘Walking with the King’, then Bill joined in singing too. The number is a great favourite, so it woo’d dancers onto the floor straight away and you knew the evening was going to be a success.

The next tune was a hit of Benny Goodman ‘The Glory of Love’ and (I think – although I didn’t jot down) was the choice for our line-dance.

‘Black Cat on a Fence’ is another number that lured all the dancers out (it reminded me so much of our Phil Mason days). ‘Nothing Blues’ was another number they chose to do, which has a wonderful dance temp – super cornet Bill.

Front liners 'Sam', Bill & Roger of Savannah Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club 27th March 2015. Photo by Mike Witt

Front liners ‘Sam’, Bill & Roger of Savannah Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club 27th March 2015. Photo by Mike Witt

How you (the band) were swinging with ‘Sam’ on trombone, Roger on tenor sax and Bill on harmonica. The next number was one for the smooching, ‘Till Then’ and again, a full house dance floor! Ken Colyer’s hit tune ‘Postman’s Lament’ was sung by Roger and as for ‘Panama Rag’, it was just fabulous, with John performing a superbly brilliant drum solo. My next choice of song to mention is ‘I Sing Because I’m Happy’ of course sung by Roger – yeahh! Then they were ALL fab, fab, just fab with ‘Shout Em Aunt Tilly’. What a fantastic job they did with that number.

Brian 'Sam' Ellis (trombonist) with Savannah Jazz Club at Farnborough Jazz Club on 27th March 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.

Brian ‘Sam’ Ellis (trombonist) with Savannah Jazz Club at Farnborough Jazz Club on 27th March 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.

Roger Myerscough (clarinet) of Savannah Jazz Club at Farnborough Jazz Club, 27th March 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.

Roger Myerscough (clarinet) of Savannah Jazz Club at Farnborough Jazz Club, 27th March 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.

 

Tony Pullitt (bass) of  Savannah Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club 27th March 2015. Photo by Mike Witt

Tony Pullitt (bass) of Savannah Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club 27th March 2015. Photo by Mike Witt

 

Andy Maynard (banjo) and John Meehan (drums) of Savannah Jazz Club, at Farnborough Jazz Club on 27th March 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.

Andy Maynard (banjo) and John Meehan (drums) of Savannah Jazz Club, at Farnborough Jazz Club on 27th March 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.

The engine room were marvellous, with Tony on bass, Andy on banjo and the mistro John, himself on drums.  Well done everyone and hope it doesn’t go another three years before we see you all again at Farnborough. Listen everyone, make a point of going wherever you see them advertised. You will not regret it.

Keep on jazzin’

Diane and Keith

‘Black Cat on a Fence’ – (l) Frank Sinatra, (m) Charlie Love (circa 1949) debatable
‘I Sing Because I’m Happy’
‘Nothing Blues’ – (need to find info on this one.)
‘Panama Rag’ – William H. Tyers (191
‘Postman’s Lament’ – traditional
‘Shout Em Aunt Tilly’ – Duke Ellington& Irving Mills (1930)
‘The Glory of Love’ – William Joseph “Billy” Hill (1936)
‘Till Then’ – Eddie Seiler, Sol Marcus & Guy Wood (1944)
‘Walking with the King’ – pop gospel, origins unknown