‘GEORGE TIDIMAN’S ALL STARS’ was set to entertain us last Friday, 6th September 2013 here at Farnborough Jazz Club. However, you may remember the M25 was suddenly closed, so we were worried as they fare from Essex (one from Oxford)! We arrived early to set up anyway. First to arrive was JOHN SIRETT (double bass), so with Keith on spoons, plus he and I could sing duets, we thought we would cope IF we had an audience! Then BILL FINCH (drums) arrived – ah, Keith wouldn’t need to play spoons. The next half hour, we had the band’s engine as ‘SOUTHEND BOB’ ALLBUT (banjo/vocals) turned up. He had travelled 120miles round trip anticlockwise on the ‘A’ roads, well done Bob. So now the audience would be saved from Keith and my vocals. Soon DENNY ILETT (trumpet) arrived also after a horrendous journey, now we had a QUARTET! For the first hour, Denny held it together with some superb trumpet playing. Considering the situation, we had a very good turnout too. However, our band leader, GEORGE TIDIMAN (trombone/vocals), had the sound equipment, so Bob’s singing was ‘acoustic’ too! George eventually turned up to receive an enormous cheer. Having had an even worse journey, being on the bridge and shunted back through the Blackwell Tunnel, but he stepped up to play straight away. Denny, playing a joke on him, said they were about to play ‘Ory’s Creole Trombone’. What a number! George being so dry, was not quite his excellent self – lip not quite ready, but that all added to the fun of the evening. Unfortunately ROGER MYERSCOUGH also had a dreadful time trying to reach us, being stuck as there had been an accident too, was eventually redirected and after a few hours, was forced to return home. Clarinettist Mick Collins and banjoist Brian Lawrence were both in the audience and had a couple of sit-ins (well done you two). George, as usual, told some of his jokes, I don’t think he has ever repeated any here yet. The band were fabulous, all performing some fantastic jazz solos. Denny played with just his mouthpiece, so clever– sorry, didn’t write number down. They played ‘Coney Island Washboard He Will Play’, with the usual audience participation. The next number I noted was ‘Do You Know What It means to Miss New Orleans’ to which Denny gave a fantastic intro to. They then dedicated the next number to the M25! It was ‘Route 66’! Bob sang the first part correct, but change the second part to places and ‘A’ roads in Essex, very clever Bob (what a great deep voice he has). Another number I jotted down, was made famous by The Squadronaires, called ‘Strike up the Band’. Wow, how they played that number. Could they follow it, yes they did, with their last number ‘South Rampart Street’ (before ending with their signature tune of ‘Bye, Bye Blues’). I had managed to video a couple of numbers on my (old) mobile. The filming is too dark, however the sound of ‘South Rampart Street’ is worth putting on here and if George and the band agrees, I might do so later.
Keep our jazz alive.
Diane and Keith