The LORD NAPIER HOT SHOTS appeared on Friday 16th October 2015, here at FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB. They have been a hot favourite for a long time at the Lord Napier and I’m sure most of us have frequented this lovely pub at one time, or another. Keith played (drums) there many years ago, with the Manhatton Jazz Band (‘standing in’ for Bill Brunskill’s Jazzmen, when they played abroad) – in the days of Trish and Doris (do you remember them?). The Lord Napier Pub has been one of London’s most favourite jazz venues since the early 1960’s. That certainly takes most of you back, doesn’t it?
Lord Napier Hotshots play at Farnborough Jazz Club on 16th October 2015. (LtoR) Mick Scriven (d. bass & bass sax), Pat Glover (reeds), Bill Traxler (drums), Mike Jackson (trumpet), Lynn Saunders (banjo) and Mike Duckworth (trombone). Photo by Mike Witt.
The musicians were MIKE JACKSON (trumpet), MIKE DUCKWORTH (trombone), PAT GLOVER (reeds), LYNN SAUNDERS (banjo), MICK SCRIVEN (double bass & bass sax) and BILL TRAXLER (drums). Many of you asked for us to get them back as they play such lovely happy trad jazz.Here’s a smattering of what they played. Their first number of the evening was sung by Mike (J) being ‘Don’t Give Up The Ship’. Mike is another jazz musician with a super voice.
Lord Napier Hotshots play at Farnborough Jazz Club on 16th October 2015. (LtoR) Mick Scriven (d. bass & bass sax), Pat Glover (reeds), Bill Traxler (drums), Mike Jackson (trumpet), (not pictured- Lynn Saunders – banjo) and Mike Duckworth (trombone). Photo by Mike Witt.
Lord_Napier Hotshots play at Farnborough Jazz Club on 16oct2015. Wot about those fab socks of Mike Duckworth (trombone)! Photo By Mike Witt.
Lord_Napier Hotshots play at Farnborough Jazz Club on 16th October 2015 with Mick Scriven on double bass & bass sax (Big Bertha as I call it), with Bill Traxler on drums and Lynn Saunders on banjo. Photo by Mike Witt.
Then came a beautiful Fat’s Waller number ‘A Porter’s Love Song To A Chamber Maid’ and sung by Mick, yes, ANOTHER great singer. Would you believe it, Lynn also has a top-notch voice, but didn’t sing tonight – unless I was out of the room at the time. Their third number was ‘Is It True What They Say About Dixie’, (Tommy Dorsey had a Number 1 hit with it). Our Pat sang this one (I call him ‘our Pat’, because Keith and he played together in the Manhatton Jazz Band). He also did a little scat vocalising too! Fabulous.
Lord_Napier Hotshots play at Farnborough Jazz Club on 16th October 2015. with Bill Traxler on drums and Lynn Saunders on banjo (both showing lovely tans!). Photo by Mike Witt.
Lord Napier Hotshots play at Farnborough Jazz Club on 16th October 2015 with Pat Glover (reeds) and Mick Scriven (d. bass & bass sax). Photo by Mike Witt.
Here’s one I don’t recall having been played here before – ‘Floating Down to Cotton Town’. A great one to dance to, the way they played it – up beat. Now of course my next choice to tell you about is a good ol’ favourite of mine – my sister and I (aged 8 & 10) used to perform (harmonising it) to all the kids in the street – and they paid to see us!! Ha. The number is ‘For Me and My Gal’, a great Judy Garland and Gene Kelly number. I had noted that Mick played Big Bertha (bass sax to you) to this one. Our line dancers came on the floor next for ‘When Your Hair Has Turned to Silver’, obviously played a bit more up tempo than usual. What came next was a number that Red Nichols and his Five Pennies made famous in 1930 – what a fabulous tune – ‘Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble’ and these guys did it proud too. Mick got out ‘Big Bertha’ (Bass sax) for ‘You Always Hurt the One You Love’. Pat sang, as only he can – romantically. Sorry, I’ve probably embarrassed Pat now – ha. I must finish on a note – the notes that make up ‘Shake That Thing’. It was a lovely evening, which left us with a wonderfully happy feeling to go home with. Lord Napier, you are one lucky pub. Still, we have them back here on Friday 26th February 2016.
Your hosts,
DIANE & KEITH
‘A Porter’s Love Song To A Chamber Maid’ – (m) James P. Johnson, (l) Andy Razaf (1930)
‘Don’t Give Up The Ship’ – (m) Harry Warren, (l) Al Dubin (1935)
‘Floating Down To Cotton Town’ – (m) F. Henri Klickmann, (l) Jack Frost (1919)
‘For Me and My Gal’ – George W. Meyer, Edgar Lesley & E. Ray Goetz (1917)
‘Is It True What They Say About Dixie’ – Gerald Marks, Irving Caesar & Sammy Lerner (1936)
‘Shake That Thing’ – traditional
‘Shim-Me-Sha-Wabble’– Spencer Williams (1917)
‘You Always Hurt The One You Love’ – (m) Doris Fisher, (l) Allan Roberts (1945)
‘When Your Hair Has Turned to Silver’ – (m) Peter De Rose, (l) Charlie Tobias (1930)