Monthly Archives: May 2014

‘Barry Palser’s Super Six’, 23/05/2014

‘BARRY PALSER’S SUPER SIX’ were back to give us their own special entertainment on Friday, 23rd May 2014 here at our Farnborough Jazz Club. Band leader BARRY (trombonist/vocals) (who ran Savoy Jazz Band for more than 55years) had booked ALAN GRESTY on trumpet/vocals (28years with Monty Sunshine Band), JOHN CROCKER on reeds/vocals (34years with The Chris Barber Band), JIM DOUGLAS* on banjo/guitar, HARVEY WESTON on double bass (both with The Alex Welsh Band – Jim 18years & Harvey 6years) and GRAHAM COLLICOTT (drums). They certainly were a contending jazz band to match last week’s and did we enjoy another brilliant evening, we certainly did! As I remarked last week, obviously, all the bands (that appear, or have appeared here) have their own brilliance, bringing their own interpretation of jazz we love, with absolutely fabulous traditional jazz, producing a great club ambiance. So what did they play? Well, they started the evening off with ‘Bourbon Street Parade’, a great favourite (I have no concrete evidence of when Paul Barbarin wrote it, hence circa 1953). The next number, ‘Riverboat Shuffle’ was chosen by everyone to do our line-dance. Barry called us “The Farnborough Jazz Formation Team”, caw Barry, we could end up next year on ‘Britain’s Got Talent’, ha. He then introduced John who sang ‘I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter’. He continued to say John is a fantastic musician, very funny with the jokes and a super singer – a good all-rounder, just like Ian Botham is to cricket. John also carried on to feature the next number, that beautiful song ‘Tangerine’. John showed his wonderful talent playing tenor sax. A hard act to follow, but Alan did so, making a smashing job with singing ‘Baby Won’t You Please Come Home’. What happened next was Barry telling everyone how when I phoned to confirm who would be in the band, he jokingly answered “What, are we with you soon”? With one personal problem after another, I really thought ‘Oh no, I’ve got everything wrong’! So to make up for the shock, Barry dedicated the next number as ‘Christopher Columbus’. Bless him for remembering it was one of my favourites. The next number was ‘Fidgety Street’ great to dance to.   Barry has an excellent jazz voice, shown when he sang ‘Louisiana’, another favourite jazz ‘standard’. They finished up with ‘Back Home Again in Indiana’, completing yet another fabulous evening. Their next date here is 29th August 2014.

Diane & Keith

* Jim has written a book called ‘Tunes, Tours and Travel-it is’. It’s about eighteen years of facts, faces and fun with the Alex Welsh Band, available through Amazon for $13.50, or email us for Jim’s contact details, if you live in England.

N.B. At one point during the evening, Barry mentioned someone had argued the point of who composed a particular number (Barry proving to be correct). Not sure who that was, but I hope if I ever get something wrong, someone will please let me know. I usually try to find original song manuscripts, but not always possible, so please correct me as and when. Thanks.

‘Baby Won’t You Please Come Home’ – (m) Charles Warfield, (l) Clarence Williams (1919)
‘Back Home Again in Indiana’ – Ballard MacDonald & James F. Hanley (1917)
‘Bourbon Street Parade’ – Paul Barbarin (c. 1953)
‘Christopher Columbus’ – Glen Miller, Joe Garland & Andy Razaf (1959)
‘Fidgety Feet’ – Nick LaRocca & Larry Shields (1919)
‘I’m Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter’ – (M) Fred E. Ahlert, (l) Joe Young (1935)
‘Louisiana’ – (m) James Johnson, (l) Andy Razaf & Bob Schaefer (1928)
‘Riverboat Shuffle’ – (m) Hoagy Carmichael, (l) Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish & Dick Voynow (1924)
‘Tangerine’ – (m) Victor Schertzinger, (l) Johnny Mercer (1941)

Tony Pitt’s All Stars, 16th May 2014

TONY PITT’S ALL STARS at Farnborough Jazz Club on 16th May 2014, was truly a night to remember. In Keith’s words, this superb band featuring some of the top musicians in British Jazz. The line-up included the powerful trumpet of DENNY ILETT, the top class trombone playing of DAVE HEWITT and the fabulous soprano and tenor sax of AL NICHOLS. A great front line, driven along by a swinging rhythm section, which included ANDY LAWRENCE’s strong double bass playing, JOHN ELLMER’s fantastic drumming and leader Tony Pitt- solid as a rock- on banjo. This was a memorable performance at the Farnborough Jazz Club, with the band looking smart and professional, bringing back visions of the great Alex Welsh band of the 70’s and 80’s (we should have recorded it). I missed jotting down their first number as people were pouring in, but recall John produced a fabulous drum solo in ‘Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans’. Also Denny sang ‘Tin Roof Blues’ (with Al playing soprano sax). Then Denny performed a beautiful solo intro to the next number ‘Maggie’. He also sang it and then ended it in the same way, so wonderful. Dave had a feature, playing ‘If I had My Way Dear’, what a performer, obviously brilliantly backed by the ‘engine’. They also backed Denny, who featured with ‘Bad Penny Blues’ (Denny sang it too). I don’t need words to describe Denny, he’s just the best. ‘Big Butter and Egg Man’ was another great number to which they all excelled. Al also had a feature number, ‘Avalon’, playing tenor sax, another brilliant musician. Nobody wanted the evening to end, but they chose ‘When the Saints Go Marching In’ to do so, obviously just the right number AND I did manage to record it on my old mobile phone. I did say last week, to expect some incredible jazz, I also said, one definitely NOT to be missed as these musicians are certainly top-notch. I was right, what a night. The band were steaming. They enjoyed what they were producing themselves, so much so, they forgot to stop and played on till 11.45pm and I’m sure they could have played on and on. Tony’s band is back with us on 15th August 2014, to celebrate Keith’s birthday.

This week, Friday 23rd May 2014, we will be featuring a band of similar quality and style – BARRY PALSER’S SUPER SIX, so come along and enjoy a great evening of Happy Jazz!

Diane and Keith

‘Avalon’ – Al Jolson, Vincent Rose & Buddy DeSylva (1920)
‘Bad Penny Blues’ – Humphrey Lyttelton (1956)
‘Big Butter and Egg Man’ – Percy Venable (1926)
‘Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans’ – Louis Alter & Eddie DeLange (1947)
‘If I had My Way Dear’ – (m) James Kendis, (l) Lou Klein (1913)
‘Tin Roof Blues’ – George Brunies, Paul Mares, Ben Pollack, Leon Roppolo & Mel Stitzel (1923)
‘When the Saints Go Marching In’ – origins unknown (derived from (m) James Milton Black, (l) Katherine Purvis 1896) re-publ 1927.
‘When You and I Were Young, Maggie’ – (p) George W. Johnson (1820), (m) James A. Butterfield (1866)

‘Chez Chesterman’s Band Of Brothers’, 9th May 2014

CHEZ CHESTERMAN’S BAND OF BROTHERS’ entertained us at FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB on Friday, 9th May 2014. Band leader CHEZ (trumpet & vocals) had booked JOHN CROCKER (clarinet), GEOFF COLE (trombone & vocals), ROY JAMES (guitar), TERRY LEWIS (double bass) and BILL FINCH (drums). Our evening began with the building refusing us entrance. Yes, you read correctly! The band could have played on the patio, but at the moment the weather is not compatible, plus we couldn’t even get access to the patio either! My whole week had been rather packed with stressful events (including neighbours telling me at 7.30am the house was billowing smoke out of the roof (the roof belonging to the house I was looking after!) Then, needing a carpenter to secure the broken door after a burglary, I was not ready for the fact we were locked out of our club. Obviously panics ensued, but the evening was saved by the kind heart of another key-holder (asleep when I called) rushing to our aid. The band rallied round and gave us all a beautiful evening, playing their hearts out. I tasted my own medicine and joined in, dancing my toes to absolute pain. I’m always saying your problems can be shelved for the evening when you come out to enjoy the music. Anyway, my first number to mention is ‘Smiles’, rather an apt number considering the beginning of the evening. Then came ‘Snake Rag’ and what a brilliant performance by all of them. Geoff, who has a wonderful voice, sang ‘I’m Putting All My Eggs In One Basket’ (famously sung by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the film ‘Follow the Fleet’) and with such a number, there was obviously audience participation. The next number to tell you about is ‘Savoy Blues’. It was introduced by Chez as written by ‘Kid’ Ory especially for Geoff. Is this an in-house joke, Chez? I rather think so, as that would make Geoff at least 100yrs old! Ha. However, the way Geoff plays that ‘bone, he certainly has the talent to be honoured by ‘Kid’. Frank Sinatra had a big hit with this next one, ‘Give Me Five Minutes More’. Again, there was lots of dancing, with the audience joining in once more, singing along with Chez. John added a remark about calling Geoff “One Direction Cole” when they played ‘Louisiana’. Don’t you just love the banter that goes on between musicians during ‘Live’ gigs, you don’t get that on many C.D’s. Louis Armstrong’s famed ‘St. James Infirmary Blues’ was sung by Chez and was absolutely fabulous – lots of dancing. They also played ‘Blue Bells Goodbye’ (a tune recorded by Ken Colyer). We did our line-dance to ‘Downtown Strutter’s Ball’. Afterwards, John called out he wondered where the ‘Roly Polys’ had gone to – ha, thanks for the compliment John, they were great dancers. If you want to hear more, they are at Welling Jazz Club lunchtimes, every first Sunday of the month.

Enjoy jazz – and don’t think it is old fashion to do so, most TV adverts are backed with jazz!!!!!

Diane & Keith

‘Blue Bells Goodbye’ – (m) Theodore F. Morse, (l) Edward Madden (1904)
‘Darktown Strutters Ball’ – Shelton Brooks (1917)
‘I’m Putting All My Eggs In One Basket’ – Irving Berlin (1936)
‘Louisiana’ – (m) James Johnson, (l) Andy Razaf & Bob Schaefer (1928)
‘Give Me Five Minutes More’ – (m) Jule Styne, (l) Sammy Cahn (1946)
‘Savoy Blues’ – Edward ‘Kid’ Ory (1927)
‘Smiles’ – Lee S. Roberts (1918)
‘Snake Rag’ – (m) Joe ‘King’ Oliver & Armand A J Piron (1923)
‘St. James Infirmary Blues’ – American Folk origin (18th century)

Mike Barry’s Uptown Gang, 2nd May 2014

MIKE BARRY’S UPTOWN GANG was the band here at the FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB on 2nd May 2014 Band leader Mike (trumpet/vocals) had booked GOFF DUBBER on clarinet/saxes/vocals, ‘WHISPERING’ MIKE HOLT on trombone/vocals, GRAHAM BARTON on piano, ROGER CURPHEY on string bass and GRAHAM COLLICOTT on drums. The evening was another success, with such songs as Louis Armstrong’s hit number, ‘East Coast Trot’, (they played it up-tempo) and ‘Fidgety Feet’. Keith has an infected toe, so Mike introduced this tune as ‘Fidgety Foot’. It is cheeky subtle one-liners like this that make our evenings at Farnborough. The atmosphere is always fun and the music always professional, with bands like Mike’s. Some of their repertoire included their own version of ‘Isle of Capri’ which was excellent. To follow was the wonderful and unique sounds of ‘Whispering Mike’s vocals with ‘Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams’ (a Bing Crosby hit). ‘Dippermouth Blues’ is a great jazz favourite, with audiences calling out “Oh play that thing”, however, we did our line-dance, so missed that moment of jumping to ones feet at that point. Loved the dancing though, always lots of fun. The next number ‘The Gettysburg Address’ was terrific and must mention impressive drumming by Graham. Mike featured next, accompanied by Roger and Graham with ‘Davenport Blues’. What a beautiful effort too. My last number is ‘Bourbon Street Parade’ and just loved the trio harmonising vocals of both Mikes and Goff. It finished another wonderful evening with everybody leaving wearing huge smiles on their faces and that is what it’s all about, always good jazz.

See you next week.

Diane and Keith

‘Davenport Blues’ – Bix Beiderbecke (1925) – named after his hometown.
‘Dippermouth Blues’ – Joe ‘King’ Oliver & Louis Armstrong
‘East Coast Trot’ – Jimmy Blythe (1926) (Johnny Dodds may have co-written)
‘Fidgety Feet’ – Nick LaRocca & Larry Shields (1919)
‘Isle of Capri’ – (m) Wilhelm Grosz (aka Hugh Williams), (l) by Jimmy Kennedy (1934)
‘The Gettysburg Address’ – (m) Peter Morgan Thall (1957), (l) Abraham Lincoln (1863)
‘Bourbon Street Parade’ – Paul Barbarin (c. 1953)
‘Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams’ – (m) Harry Barris, (l) Ted Koehler & Billy Moll (1931)