Author Archives: Diane

‘Mahogany Hall Stompers’, 28th February 2014

‘MAHOGANY HALL STOMPERS’ appeared at our Farnborough Jazz Club on Friday, 28th February 2014.  Band leader & trumpeter Brian Giles was joined by Tim Huskisson on clarinet/sax (yes he was with us last Friday on piano, that’s how talented he is).  Also Rex Odell on trombone, ‘Southend Bob’ Albutt on banjo, Eddie Johnson on double bass and last, but not least, was Barry Tyler on drums (haven’t seen you in years Barry).  Last week, I asked all you audience makers, to please make sure you didn’t miss it, so you could dance away an odd pound or two in weight BEFORE the Easter egg(s) cometh! Some of you heeded, so thanks for helping to produce a lovely happy atmosphere.  Anyhow, these were some of the numbers the band played just to give you a little in-site of the enjoyable evening we had.  They began the evening with ‘How Do You Do Me Like You Do, Do, Do’, which was sung by Bob.  What a great voice he has.  This was followed with such a beautiful song called ‘Tangerine’, one amongst some of my many best loved favourites), beautifully sung by Rex.  The next song has been featured on TV recently, advertising Volkswagen cars (with the tall beautiful girl wanting a tall guy – one gets out of a small car).  The song ‘It’s Just Like Looking for a Needle in a Haystack’ sung by Bob, comes from the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers film called ‘The Gay Divorcee’.  He followed up with some scat vocalising to ‘Cushion Feet Stomp’ (I jotted down ‘some lovely trombone sounds’).  Bob’s famous party-piece is that number called ‘I Wanna Be A Dog’.  It is an extremely funny song written by children’s author, Barry Louis Polisar.  Bob has re-vamped it, and his voice really does it justice too.  The next number I noted was ‘When You’re Smiling’, with Brian’s lovely trumpet and Rex giving a brilliant imitation of Louis Armstrong, (including the hanky).  Of course we all joined in with him (well not like Louis).  I remember him giving out a laugh and said “Oh, I think I sounded more like Tommy Cooper there, ha”.  Now the next number to mention was ‘You Meet the Nicest People in Your Dreams’, which was also sung by Rex.  It is a much loved song here in our club, which was often played by one of our favorite bands, namely Phil Mason’s New Orleans All Stars (we miss you Phil).  Of course again we joined in with Rex too.  (I quite like the fact that this song was co-written by A Goodhart – I know, I’m sloppy).    Bob sang the next number ‘I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling’, which showed off his very rich baritone sound.  The band rounded off the evening with that gorgeous Louis Armstrong number called ‘What a Wonderful World’.  Of course, Rex did the business again (it must be quite rough on the vocal cords though – well done Rex).  Thanks to the boys in the band, for a lovely evening.

Cheers from Diane and Keith

‘Cushion Feet Stomp’ – Clarence Williams & Louis Katzman (1927)
‘How Do You Do Me Like You Do, Do, Do’ – Gene Austin, Roy Bergere (1924)
‘It’s Just Like Looking for a Needle in a Haystack’ – (m) Con Conrad, (l) Herbert Magidson (1934)
‘I’ve Got a Feeling I’m Falling’ – Fats Waller (1929)
‘I Wanna Be A Dog’ – Barry Louis Polisar (1979) & re-vamped by ‘Southend Bob’ Allbut
Tangerine’ – (m) Victor Schertzinger, (l) Johnny Mercer (1941)
‘What a Wonderful World’ – Bob Thiele & George D Weiss (1968)
‘When you’re Smiling’ – Larry Shay, Mark Fisher & Joe Goodwin (1929)
‘You Meet the Nicest People in Your Dreams’ – (m) Al Hoffman & Al Goodhart, (l) Manny Kurtz (1939)

Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band, 21st February 2014

PHOENIX DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND appeared at our Farnborough Jazz Club on Friday, 21st February 2014.  Due to a misunderstanding, our pre-advertised band ‘LIMEHOUSE JAZZ BAND’ was unable to come to England (Pianist Martin Litton & His Rhythms replaced ‘Limehouse Jazz Band’ at the Spice of Life that afternoon).  However, at short notice, our good friend – band leader ROBIN COOMBS (clarinettist) very quickly booked his band for us.  The musicians were PAUL HIGGS on trumpet, BILL TODD on trombone, TIM HUSKISSON on piano, ROGER CURPHEY on double bass, JOHN STUART on banjo & guitar and ALAN CLARKE on drums.  The boys gave us a wonderful spontaneous evening. I didn’t manage to write their first numbers down. The dancing was slow at getting going.  I think the first number to bring out some dancers was ‘Up a Lazy River’.  Robin was a little concerned not to have seen the dancers on the floor before this, but wherever you go, nobody likes to be first out on the floor and without Gordon and Steve to encourage other dancers (Gordon is out of commission for a while and Steve was at a birthday party elsewhere), it takes a little longer to see our dancers.  By the time the ‘Kid’ Ory number ‘South’ was played, all the dancers were swinging.  I just loved the drum intro to the next number, ‘Hindustan’, a marvellous number.  Then Paul played wonderful trumpet to ‘Chinatown, My Chinatown’.  They changed key halfway through too.  Then came ‘Ja-Da’, a number not played too often here and so makes a change.  Then the next number in contrast is often played here, but we don’t mind that either, being ‘Hello Central, Give Me Doctor Jazz’, a great favorite.  It was sung by Bill, who has a really good voice and should sing more often.  Keith and I listen to him playing (first Monday, monthly) with Mick Collins’ 16piece Modern Jazz Orchestra, held in Bromley South H.G. Wells Center.  Isn’t it wonderful how diverse musicians can be.  What followed next was a fabulous number called ‘Love is just around the Corner’ and I had no-one to dance with!  Then if that wasn’t enough, on comes Paul playing solo with a ‘Louis Armstrong intro’, just brilliant, the number of course was ‘West End Blues’, which was famed by Louis Armstrong. The finale came with ‘Caravan’ and Alan performed his magic on drums.  You might recall from my last comments about him being a drum teacher and if you did follow our Phoenix’s CV page, hopefully you will have looked in on the ‘You Tube’ recording of him playing a drum duo with his son and if not, please do so now!  Phoenix Dixieland’s next date here is to be 18th May 2014.

N.B. I can confirm the LIMEHOUSE JAZZ BAND will be appearing with us on 24th October 2014 as well as at the ‘SPICE OF LIFE’ that afternoon.

Don’t you just love ‘Live music’?

Diane and Keith

‘Caravan’ – (m) Juan Tirol, (l) Irving Mills (1937)
‘Chinatown, My Chinatown’ – (m) Jean Schwartz, (l) William Jerome (1910)
‘Hello Central, Give Me Doctor Jazz’ – Joe ’King’ Oliver & Walter Melrose (1926)
‘Hindustan’ – (m) Harold Weeks, (l) Oliver G Wallace (1917)
‘Ja-Da’ – Bob Carleton (1918)
‘Love is just around the Corner’ – (m) Lewis E. Gensler, (l) Leo Robin (1934)
‘South’ – Thamen Hayes & Bennie Moten (1924) (lyrics added later by Ray Charles)
‘(Up A) Lazy River’ – (m) Sidney Arodin, (m&l) Hoagy Carmichael (1930)
‘West End Blues’ – Joe ’King’ Oliver, (l) Clarence Williams (1928)

‘Barry Palser’s Super Six’, 14/02/2014

‘BARRY PALSER’S SUPER SIX’ gave us such a lovely evening on Friday, 14th February 2014 (celebrating ♥Happy St. Valentine’s Day♥’) here at Farnborough Jazz Club.  The weather was atrocious and many of you couldn’t make it (once again I welcomed those who came with ‘Good evening my little ducklings).  Anyhow, the band travelled from far and wide through it all.  Not only that, we had a chap (called Alan) who had travelled from Devon to Weymouth (both places which have been hit badly by the storms and floods).  He then came from Weymouth to visit us (for the first time), danced brilliantly, staying till the end and then returned to Weymouth that night!  Another (new) couple travelled from Milton Keynes too.   However, those who refrained from coming, I must tell you a tree was blown over in the High Street, so don’t feel so bad.  But sorry, now to make you drool at what you missed?  Band leader ♥BARRY (trombonist/vocals) booked by ♥ALLAN (Lord Arsenal) BRADLEY (trumpet/vocals), ♥JOHN CROCKER (reeds/vocals), ♥TONY PITT (banjo), ♥HARVEY WESTON (double bass) and ♥JOHN TYSON (drums).  The evening was wonderful, with the tunes and great jokes all based most aptly for the day.  They began the evening’s overtones of romance with ‘All of Me’ (hmmm).  Then some lovely solos by all were played with ‘Sugar, That Sugar Baby o’ Mine’.  Barry sang the next number called ‘Gee, Baby, Aint I Been Good to You’.  Then Barry announced “We were asked for a rap number, so here it is!” and began playing (with Allan singing) ‘Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams’.  Our audience were in absolute rapturous fits of laughter.  ‘Sweet Sue’ was next and brought a few more dancers on to the floor.   Now the next number wasn’t really for Valentine’s night, but it was requested (I wonder why – hmm).  It was called ‘Love, Careless Love’!  Tony began the number with a bass solo that was brilliant and Barry also sang.  Then I feel ‘Move Your Body Over’ needs a mention, with Allan infiltrating the song with a bit of ‘Wakey, Wakey’ theme song for Colin Dobson.  Colin was trumpeter for many years in ‘The Billie Cotton Band Show’.  He was in the audience with his family (his grandson [Luke] and partner are both doctors, so Colin said he will have no worries now).  Barry then sang to ‘Girl of My Dreams’.  He was wearing a pair of Y-fronts on his head.  The band had awarded them to Peter Marr, one of our regulars.  Pete is a wonderful supporter of many clubs and is known by so many bands and has incredible jazz knowledge.  Pete donated his ‘award’ to our raffle, but I awarded it back to him at the end of the ‘draw’ for being such a great ‘supporter’ (I don’t know why it wasn’t chosen a’head’ of the other prizes!).  Behave yourself Diane and back to the repertoire.  The next number was to feature the great John Crocker on clarinet.  He chose to play that song reminiscent of Rudolph ♥Valentino♥ called ‘The Sheik of Araby’.  John was superb.  Barry then announced the next number as ‘There will Never Be Another Ewe’ by Shepherd Neame!!! (I wrote “great trumpet, great muted trombone”).  The last thing I jotted down was John playing tenor sax, backed by Barry and Allan with the song ‘S’ Wonderful’ and it was wonderful.  What an incredibly enjoyable evening.  Their next date with us 23rd May 2014, put it in your diaries.

Keep jazz ‘live’.

Diane and Keith

‘All of Me’ – Gerald Marks & Seymour Simons (1931)
‘Gee, Baby, Aint I Good to You’ – (m) Don Redman, (l) Andy Razaf (1929)
‘Girl of My Dreams’ – Sunny Clapp (1927)
‘Love, Careless Love’ – traditional (recorded in 1925 by Louis Armstrong & Bessie Smith)
‘Move your Body Over’ – (possible ‘Fats’ Waller or George Lewis?)
‘Sugar, That Sugar Baby o’ Mine’ – Maceo Pinkard, his wife Edna Alexander & Sidney D. Mitchell
‘Sweet Sue, Just You’ – (m) Victor Young, (l) Will J. Harris (1928)
’S Wonderful’ – (m) George Gershwin, (l) Ira Gershwin (1927)
‘There Will Never Be Another You’ – (m) Harry Warren, (l) Mack Gordon (1942)
‘The Sheik of Araby’ – (m) Ted Snyder, (l) Harry B. Smith & Francis Wheeler (1921)
‘Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams’ – (m) Harry Barris, (l) Ted L. Koehler & Billy Moll (1931)

Mike Barry’s XXL Jazz Band, 7/01/2014

The Farnborough Jazz Club proudly presented MIKE BARRY’S XXL JAZZ BAND on Friday, 7th February 2014.  The band’s leader and trumpeter Mike, had with him reeds player JOHNNY ROGERS, trombonist REX O’DELL, pianist GRAHAM BARTON, double bassist ROGER CURPHEY and drummer PAUL BUDD.   Our audience certainly jazzed it up on the dance floor!  Everyone said what a fantastic band and consequent evening it was, whether dancers, or not.  Now let’s tell you how the evening’s fun occurred.  My first jotting was of ‘Basin Street Blues’.  Mike sung this one and Roger played double bass with a bow, gorgeous (the playing – not Roger – although he is too, ha).  Rex sang ‘Everybody Loves My Baby’.  Then that great song ‘Saint Louis Blues’ came next (which was said to have inspired the Foxtrot dance).  It was sung by Rex, with Johnny playing sax.  Then Johnny sang ‘Keeping out Of Mischief Now’.  He has been suffering with tonsillitis, but he did a marvellous job.  Now the next song was called ‘My Bucket’s got a Hole in it’, famed by Hank Williams and later in 1970 by Louis Armstrong.  Mike and Rex sung in harmony, managing to interject a bit of ‘You Keep a-knocking, But You Can’t Come In – fantastic.  Mike then sang ‘Marching through Georgia’.  After that, Graham featured on piano, with his brilliant composition of boogie woogie and we named it ‘Graham’s Boogie’.  Everyone got up to dance and all of us completely let our hair down too.  Fancy following that, but Rex did, by singing, in the inimitable style of Louis Armstrong, to ‘Aint Misbehaving’ and then to put the icing on the cake came ‘Dr Jazz’ sung by Lil Hardin (Louis Armstrong’s second wife) nah, I’m sure they announced it wrong, surely it WAS Johnny, sounded like Lil though!  What a lovely lot of fun. Next date for Mike’s XXL Band is 26th September 2014.

Hope to see as many as possible next Friday.

Diane and Keith

‘Aint Misbehaving’ – (m) Fats Waller & Harry Brooks, (l) Andy Razaf (1929)
‘Basin Street Blues’ – Spencer Williams (1926)
‘Dr Jazz’ – Joe ‘King’ Oliver & Walter Melrose (1926)
‘Everybody Loves My Baby’ – (m) Spencer Williams, (l) Jack Palmer (1924)
‘Graham’s Boogie’ – Graham Barton (2014)
‘Keeping out Of Mischief Now’ – Thomas ‘Fats’ Waller (circa 1920’s, r.1937)
 ‘My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It’ – Clarence Williams (1949)
‘Marching Through Georgia’ – Henry Cray Work (1865)
‘Saint Louis Blues’ – W.C. Hanley (1914)

Les Hanscombe’s Tailgate Jazz Band, 31/01/2014

LES HANSCOMBE’S TAILGATE JAZZ BAND made their second appearance on 31st January 2014 at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent).  Unfortunately, my computer was ‘down’ when they first visited us on 28th June 2013, but Keith and I can recall they were a wonderful traditional jazz band.  The musicians who played this time with leader and trombonist LES, were BRIAN GILES on trumpet, BRIAN HART on reeds, BRIAN STAPELY on drums (yep, three Brian’s!), GERRY HOSKINS on double bass, plus OLLIE BENSON on banjo & guitar. After the previous week, with a lot of you missing for one reason, or another, last week I asked you to please return to the fold, so we could show Les and band a warm welcome back.  I am so sorry I asked you, because (although still lean on the ground), many of you did push yourselves to come.  The reason for having to push yourselves, was no reflection on the band, it was due to more dreadful weather conditions endured to get here.  Yes, tons more rain.  The band made it through the flooding, but a lot of you were once again missing.  Perfectly understandable, but to everyone who made an effort, we thank you so much for giving the band a warm welcome back.   Gordon, one of our main dancers, turned up, although still out of commission for dancing, so some of our ladies did asked nicely for a dance from some of you shy guys, which did make a change aye?  No seriously, we have plenty of fun, with or without dancing.   ‘Back Home Again in Indiana’ was the first number noted down , then  Les sang the next number called ‘Look Down that Lonesome Road’, with Brian H playing tenor sax.  I wrote ‘really lovely number’ to next one, called ‘Mama’s Gone, Goodbye’.  It has a lovely 1920ish happy beat, so plenty of dancing. Ollie brought out the guitar and Brian S played a lovely drum solo to ‘On Treasure Island’.  This number was a ‘No.1 hit’ for Tommy Dorsey, definitely one for dancing too. The band was in a happy mood with their choice of numbers.  They were all very melodic.  The next one was ‘You Came out of Nowhere’, with Brian G on trumpet, using a mute on and off throughout the number and Brian H playing tenor sax, wonderful.  Next number Les sang to and Brian H chose to play clarinet with ‘All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm’, another good dancing number.  Then a lovely start with ‘engine’ only to ‘The World is Waiting for Sunrise’ (being Brian S giving great drum solo, plus Gerry and Ollie) and then ‘Bei Mir Bist Du Shon’ followed.  I wrote ‘great drums, great guitar, great trombone, oh what the heck, great all!’  My last number written down was ‘Creole Love Call’ I wrote ‘yeah’.  What a simply lovely feeling the band left us with.  Les’s Band will return on 10th October 2014.

Please keep us ‘Live’.

Diane and Keith

‘All God’s Chillun Got Rhythm’ – Walter Jurmann, Gus Kahn & Bronislau Kaper (1937)
‘Back Home Again in Indiana’ – Ballard MacDonald & James F. Hanley (1917)
‘Bei Mir Bist Du Shon’ – (m) Sholom Secunda, (l) Jacob Jacobs (1932)
                                                                             Re-written by Sammy Cahn & Saul Chaplin (1937)
‘Creole Love Call’ – © Duke Ellington (1928) (lost court case by Joe ‘King’ Oliver (1923)
‘Look Down That Lonesome Road’ – (m) Nathaniel Shilkret, (l) Gene Austin (1927)
‘Mama’s Gone, Goodbye’ – A J Piron & Peter Bocage (1924)
‘On Treasure Island’ – Joseph Burke & Edgar Leslie (1935)
‘The World is Waiting For Sunrise’ – (m) Ernest Seitz (l) Gene Lockhart (1919) Seitz conceived @ 12yrs-1904
‘You Came Out of Nowhere’ – (m) John Green, (l) Edward Heyman (1931)

 

‘Chez Chesterman’s Band of Brothers’, 24/01/2014

‘CHEZ CHESTERMAN’S BAND OF BROTHERS’ were at our Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) on Friday, 24th January 2014.  The guys in the band were trumpeter/vocalist and leader CHEZ, with GEOFF COLE on trombone & vocals, ROY JAMES on banjo & guitar, TERRY LEWIS on double bass and BILL FINCH on drums.  Our crowd was somewhat diminished for one reason or another, but not enough to spoil the evening.  Chez and Geoff played their ‘socks off’, to which we tip our hats to, including the rest of the band.  There was plenty of dancing going on, albeit some numbers were just listened to.  They put on a good repertoire and here are a few numbers to give you a feel of the evening.  The first number I jotted down was called ‘Down in Honky Tonk Town’, with Geoff (who has a great jazz voice) singing and Roy playing banjo.   King Oliver’s ‘Riverside Blues’ was another tune that lured the dancers on.  Chez (who also has that wonderful unique jazz voice) sang the next number (plus a few of us in the audience too), called ‘Down by the Riverside (Study War No More)’.  Some of you will know folk singer, Peter Seeger had a big ‘hit’ with this number in 1956, with his slightly changed lyrics and of course you may be aware, he died this Sunday (27th) at the age of 94yrs.  Back to our jazz, the next numbers I jotted down were ‘Bugle Boy March’, ‘A Kiss to Build a Dream On’ (Roy played guitar) and ‘The Sheik of Araby’, all fabulous numbers.  Then Chez sang to a beautiful ballad called ‘I Can’t Sleep’, and all the dancers (and non-dancers) came out to dance.  The writer of this wonderful tune (‘Montana’ Taylor) never enjoyed fame, disappearing from the spotlight (twice) for years at a time, dying at the early age of 51yrs, in 1954 (I say “play it again please Sam”).  Geoff sang and Roy played guitar to the next number called ‘Oh Lady Be Good’.  Then Fats Waller’s number ‘Fair and Square In Love’, sung by Chez, was their last number and so our dancers all came on the dance floor.  So many of you thanked Chez, saying how much you enjoyed the evening.  It is so nice for musicians to be told afterwards, it makes their evening complete and helps them on their long journey home.

You have no need to read this bit, but before I close, I wanted to mention a weird thing that happened whilst preparing this newsletter!   As you know, weird things often happen to me – of course just coincidences (or is it just that I am weird – well no need to agree so readily!)   First of all, I was chatting to the band (having had lots of little mishaps), I mentioned having seen Anthony Newley’s (1961) play ‘Stop the World, I Want to Get Off’.  I recalled not understanding the meaning then, even though I found it very clever and funny (Anna Quale’s debut I recall).  Anyhow, I visited Les Hanscombe’s Tailgate Jazz Band on ‘Youtube’  to prepare for next week’s newsletter.  Pay a visit and you will hear Les announcing the number ‘Don’t Give up the Ship’ (they have a CD named by this title).  Les says this number apparently was to be called ‘Stop the World, I want to Get Off’, but it was too long a title.  Visit (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86HCWRK2R0M&list=PL7E111545F36F589E (Tune No: 7, recorded at Harwich Electric Palace Cinema -Harwich).  Creepy aye?  I haven’t mentioned the play in years!  By the way, I fully understand the meaning of the play now!  Hmmm!

Oh wow, another one!!!!  I came back to finish this newsletter this morning (Thursday).  Last Friday morning, I bought two DVD’s (digressing, one I mentioned on the mike – reading out ‘Daddy Long Legs’ which says ‘Contains no sex, violence or bad language’, now that’s a rarity aye?  Joyful called out “I bet Keith won’t watch it”!  I watched the other DVD (‘South Pacific’) last night.  What is weird you ask?  Well, I have just realised I saw that film (& play) in 1958 – the year I thought I had seen Anthony Newley’s play (standing corrected this a.m. to 1961).  The composers of ‘South Pacific’ were Rodgers & Hammerstein.  What’s so weird, you are asking?  The band played and I chose to jot down ‘A Kiss to build a Dream on’ – composer? – Oscar Hammerstein II.  Are they all trying to get in touch with me!!!!!!  Chez’s band returns here on 9th May 2014.

Diane and Keith

‘Down By the Riverside (Study War No More)’ – traditional/Gospel song first published 1918
‘Bugle Boy March – Francis Meyers ((1907)
‘Do What Ory Say’ – Kid Ory (1945)
‘Down In Honky Tonk Town – (m) Chris Smith, (l) Charles Mccarron (1916)
‘Fair and Square in Love’ – Fats Waller (1938)
‘A Kiss to Build a Dream On’ – (m) Harry Ruby & Oscar Hammerstein II, (l) Bert Kalmar, (1935)
‘I Can’t Sleep’ – Arthur ‘Montana’ Taylor (1929)
‘Oh Lady Be Good’ – (m) George Gershwin, (l) Ira Gershwin (1924)
‘Riverside Blues’ – Thomas A Dorsey & Richard M Jones (1923)
‘The Sheik of Araby’ – (m) Ted Snyder, (l) Harry B. Smith & Francis Wheeler (1921)

Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces, 17/01/2014

‘BOB DWYER’S BIX & PIECES’ played for us on Friday, 17th JANUARY 2014 here at FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB.  The musicians in the band were leader BOB on trombone & vocals, MAX EMMONS on trumpet, harmonica & vocals, Ausie DUNCAN HEMSTOCK on clarinet & sax (who stepped in for Bernie Holden), HUGH CROZIER on piano & vocals, JOHN BAYNE on double bass/bass sax, NICK SINGER on banjo & vocals and LAURIE CHESCOE on drums, whistle & grins.  I began the evening in a state of panic.  I’m looking after a family member’s house, which is on the highest point of Kent. That day, water was pouring off the lawn, threatening to flood, so I needed to sort before leaving!  Also someone said M25 had been closed due to flooding, so I thought we would be in trouble at the club.  Possibly band having problems getting to us, plus having a small audience?  However, the band all made it, but the audience arrived at a trickle – pardon the pun!  I did say jokingly last week to swim to us, but great as you are, most regulars arrived and a wonderful evening ensued.  I wrote so many tunes down, so I found it hard to decide which ones to tell you about, but here’s my choice.  The first was a Billie Holiday number called ‘No Regrets’ and sung by Bob.  He has a very melodic voice.  ‘At The Jazz Band Ball’ was my next number to mention.  Wow, they were all up dancing and I managed to write ‘Yeah!’  I wrote a huge asterisk next to ‘Rebecca,  Rebecca, Get Your Big Legs Off of Me’’, and jotted down “Fabulous – an ‘all-out’ number, with all of them playing brilliantly – especially Max, who sang, plus played harmonica.  We performed our line-dance to their next number, Irving Berlin’s fabulous song ‘Puttin’ on the Ritz’.  Well four of us did.  A few of our usual line-dancers had not made it to the club, but I think us four enjoyed ourselves.  I hope the rest of the audience and band enjoyed it too (tough if you didn’t, ha).  John needs to have a special mention with his marvellous performance to the next number.  He began the tune playing solo bass sax to the complete tune of ‘It’s a Sin to Tell a Lie’, then the rest joined in, with Nick singing in his own inimitable way, plus audience participation too.   The next fabulous number was one they have played for us in the past.  I must tell you how again, they all gave an amazing performance.  The number was ‘Freight Train Blues’.  Max not only sung it, but also played harmonica.  John played bass sax, with drummer Laurie blowing the whistle, plus Bob and Duncan making the sound of a train.  Such splendid entertainment and I personally would like them to play it each time they return.  Then someone suggested we have the ladies in the audience ask the men for a dance, which was a lovely idea.  At that point, the band played my request of ‘Change Partners and Dance with Me’, a lovely medium (successful) dance tempo.  We’ll have to try that again next week.  The next number featured Duncan on clarinet with Laurie on drums.  Absolutely superb.  When they finished, I asked if I could speak and said “They have just re-named our club to Carnegie Hall.  Laurie’s grin resembles Gene Krupa and Duncan was definitely in Benny Goodman’s shoes.  You’ve guessed, it was ‘Bei Mir Bist Du Shon’, re-written by Sammy Cahn in 1937, who gave the then unknown Andrew Sisters a huge world-wide hit.  By the way, (I think I have mentioned before) I might have been the person who started off calling it ‘My Dear Mr Shane’!  Keith corrected me nearly 30years ago!  I prefer my name!  To continue, they finished the evening with ‘Caldonia’.  Yes, they have played it before for us, but again they do it so well, with Hugh’s super vocals too.  You are a wonderful band and consequently, everyone left on a ‘high’ with huge smiles on their faces.   It certainly was fun jazz, jazz, jazz and as quoted last week from Bing’s words, “and that’s jazz”!  Their next date here is 28th March 2014.

Diane and Keith

‘At The Jazz Band Ball’ – (m) Nick LaRocca, Larry Shields (1917) (l’s added 1950 by Johnny Mercer)
‘Bei Mir Bist Du Shon’ – (m) Sholom Secunda, (l) Jacob Jacobs (1932). Re-written by Sammy Cahn &Saul Chaplin (1937)
‘Caldonia’ – (believed written in 1945 by Louis Jordan)
‘Change Partners and Dance with Me’ – Irving Berlin (1938)
‘Freight Train’ – Elizabeth ‘Libba’ Cotton (circa 1906)
‘It’s A Sin to Tell a Lie’ – Billy Mayhew (1936
‘No Regrets’ – (m) Roy Ingraham (l) Harry Tobias (1936)
‘Puttin’ On the Ritz’ – Irving Berlin (1929)
‘Rebecca, Rebecca, Get Your Big Legs Off of Me’ – Pete K.H. Johnson & Big Joe Turner (circa 1938)

Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band 10/01/2014

PHOENIX DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND played on FRIDAY, 10th JANUARY 2014, here at FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB for my ‘17th’ birthday celebration and thanks, they did me proud.  The leader of this 7-pce band is our long-term friend ROBIN COOMBS, who plays clarinet. With him was NORMAN BULL on trombone, DAVE BARNES on piano, ROGER CURPHEY on double bass and LYNN SAUNDERS on banjo and vocals. Robin also had two special guest stars, namely PAUL HIGGS on trumpet and ALAN CLARKE on drums.  Please check them out in the ‘Band’s CV’s page (also go to the bottom of the page – you will see a photo of Keith in his first band with Norman, both as teenagers!).   I mentioned last week that I was sure you would want to get out for a bit of jazz and dancing after such a long break (being a year ago, ha!!!)  I also mentioned that we hoped you would all be fully recovered from the dreaded lurgies many of you seem to have, or have had!  I also said what a great party we had for Christmas and that with no jazz on Friday (4th), it seemed really weird how we did not feel ‘hung over’ the next day, plus no sore feet!  Anyway, I was really looking forward to possibly having another great party, especially as last year’s 70th had been cancelled (due to the same virus) and before I could even send out invitations too.  So I suggested having a ‘Gangsters & Moles’ party (optional) as my family would be coming dressed in party wear.  Yes, I know, I made the same error last time we had that theme.  I meant to say ‘Gangsters & Molls’ of course (last time, Steve came in a Mole mask! hmmm).  Well, the evening was fanbeeptastic.  They began the evening with ‘I’ve Found a New Baby’, a lovely tempo.  The next number featured Robin on clarinet and Norman on trombone, called ‘As Long As I Live’.  Next came ‘Big Butter and Egg Man’.  The band’s usual trumpeter, Dave Ware, has had a tooth extraction, which as you know, will prevent him from playing until it heals, so he came to listen.  The guys asked him to sing their next number ‘I Want a Little Girl to Call My Own’.  Dave has a lovely voice, so it was nice he showed up.  Their next tune played was ‘Indiana’ (Back Home In).  This number was played in the ‘The Gene Krupa Story’ and ‘The Five Pennies’ films.  Another number to mention was sung by Dave (B) and he got our audience to participate, with a great fun ‘Fats Waller’ number called ‘Twenty-Four Robbers’.  This song was also recorded by Glen Miller with Bing Crosby singing.  Then came a real treat with Paul featured on trumpet, called ‘Stardust’.  What a lovely number it is and certainly Paul was wonderful.  Joan in the audience requested that lovely tune, called ‘Sweet Lorraine’.  This was followed with Duke Ellington’s fabulous number called ‘Caravan’, in which Alan performed an incredible drum solo, lasting about three minutes, mind blowing stuff – lovely jubbly.  They finished up with a little bit of ‘Bye Bye Blues’.  One of the highlights of the evening for me was Roger allowing my seven (nearly eight) year old granddaughter to assist him with his double bass playing during his solo (I hope to publish a bit of it – or a photo later).   The band will be back on 18th April 2014 for Easter (Good Friday).  Thank you everyone, for making my evening.

Don’t forget ‘Keep jazz ‘live’, so see you all next Friday.

Diane and Keith

‘As Long As I Live’ – (m) Harold Arlen, (l) Ted Koehler (1934)
‘Big Butter and Egg Man’ – Percy Venable (1926)
‘Bye, Bye Blues’ – Fred Hamm, Dave Bennett, Bert Lown & Chauncey Gray (w.1925, p.1930)
‘Caravan’ – (m) Juan Tizol, (l) Irving Mills (1937)
‘Indiana (Back Home In)’ – (m) James F. Hanley, (l) Ballard MacDonald (1917)
‘I’ve Found a New Baby’ – Jack Palmer and Spencer Williams (1926)
‘I Want a Little Girl to Call My Own’ – Murray Mencher and Bill Moll (1930)   sung by Dave
‘Twenty-Four Robbers’ – Teddy Buckner & Victor Young (1941)
‘Stardust’ – (m) Hoagy Carmichael (1927), (l) Mitchell Parish & Hoagy (1929)
‘Sweet Lorraine’ – (m) Cliff Burwell, (l) Mitchell Parish (1928)

Dart Valley Stompers, 20/12/2013

What a fabulous party we had on Friday, 20th December 2013 here at our Farnborough Jazz Club, with the DART VALLEY STOMPERS providing the entertainment.  The Sports Club Committee had worked hard and managed to have the new floor installed during the week, working right up to the day before!  Yes, a tight squeeze (especially as they also had a booking on that Thursday evening too), so thanks guys  for all your hard work – & girls for the Xmas décor as well. 

It was our last gig of the year – our Xmas Party and as predicted, we certainly did ‘live it up’ with a ‘full house’.  So, first of all, Keith and I wish to thank everyone for pre-booking, needed for food ordering.  Only a handful of you had to cancel on the day.  However, a few more of you took ‘pot luck’ and just turned up anyway!  One of our regulars said there were faces he didn’t know.  I told him Keith and I knew everyone (bar two new faces) some from way back in ‘Badgers Mount’ days and as having said on previous occasions, thank goodness clubs do have a nucleus of visitors.   Now to tell you about the evening.  The food was produced by our friend Peter (a London pro chef) and his young protégé, Dan.  I think all who participated, would agree, the spread was splendid, so thanks you two.

Now what about the band.  As mentioned last week, they hail from Devon, but are extremely popular throughout the Country.  Their first visit to us was back in December 2011.  JEREMY HUGGETT, their founder/leader (clarinet, Saxes & vocals) was joined by GRAHAM TREVARTON (cornet, trumpet & vocals), RON MILFORD (trombone & vocals), EDDIE EDWARDS (banjo), LUKAS DRINKWATER (bass) and CHRIS STOCKINGS (drums).   I said last week, I had to sleuth for Eddie on the internet to check what he played, saying he just might be ‘Eddie the Eagle’.  What was so spooky is I had prepared last week’s message during the morning, but wanted to update the previous Friday’s news before publishing it.  What’s spooky, you say?  Well, if any of you had watched ‘Egg Heads’, you would have known Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards was a Challenger in that afternoon’s programme!  Yes, I know it’s a coincidence, but I mean to say, wow!  Anyway, to continue…. I was so busy, it was very hard to make my notes of the evening, but what an overall feel I was soaking in – what a band.  There was so much dancing going on.  Their first number began with a drum start to ‘Willie the Weeper’, a lovely ‘trad’ jazz favourite.  I’d like to mention ‘Jambalaya’, just great to dance to aye.  Then there was ‘Birth of the Blues’, sung by Ron and lots of us in the audience too.  Graham also sang, his number being ‘I Would Do Anything for you’.  Of course the food was served during the first break, so I’m not sure what number followed, but I know ‘Hello Dolly’ was sung by Ron and ‘Streets of the City’ was a brilliant tune that changed key a couple of times – brilliant.  There were few requests, which the band kindly agreed to play, those being ‘Sweet Lorraine’, ‘Down in Honky Tonk Town’ and ‘Blueberry Hill’.  I can’t remember when we did our line-dance.  However, Steve (a regular), having been to New Orleans, had asked some weeks ago, for a Brolly Parade.  Keith hadn’t heard me mention anything on the mike the week before, plus hadn’t notice any brollies being brought in, so it was a complete surprise to him (I think there were about 30 of them).  Obviously ‘Bourbon Street Parade’ was the number and was sung by both Jeremy and Ron.  Keith said it was the highlight of the evening – what a parade.  It has been four or five years since we last had one, so was great fun (thanks Steve for suggesting it).  Several photos were taken, so please may I ask you for copies to put here on this website, ta.  Just one extra point, the band didn’t leave till gone 12.30am and would not have got home till at least 6.00am!

Now before closing, we would also like to thank Ian (Sports Club’s President) who rushes home after work (in central London) every week, to unlock the club house early for us, plus to get the bar ready and on occasions run it too.  Also to thank our bar staff, Val and Harry, Barb and Cath, for their hard work (including helping to clear up afterwards) and not leaving until at least 1.00am and all with cheery smiling faces.

Yes, also a thanks to everyone, you did make it one of our most memorable Christmas parties to end 2013 out in style.  We surely did ‘keep on dancing’ and yes, we did have the correct music!

Finally, we would like to thank everyone who have managed to support us throughout 2013, including all the wonderful jazz bands who have appeared here.  Of course we wish everyone a very Healthy and Happy New Year in 2014.  This includes all our jazz media friends (Just Jazz Magazine, Jazz Guide and Kent Jazz News etc.)

Don’t forget, our next gig will be 10th January 2014 (8.30pm-11.30pm), with PHOENIX DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND to celebrate my 17th birthday (now then, stop laughing!!!!!).

Diane and Keith

(Phew, I know, I do go on, don’t I – sorry!)

‘Birth of the Blues’ – (m) Ray Henderson. (l) Buddy G. DeSylva & Lew Brown (1926)
‘Blueberry Hill’ – (m) Vincent Rose, (l) Al Lewis & Larry Stock (1940)
‘Bourbon Street Parade’ – Paul Barbarin (c. 1953)
‘Down in Honky Tonk Town’ – Chris Smith & Charles McCarron (1916)
‘Hello Dolly’ – Jerry Herman (1964)
‘(I Would Do) Anything for You’ – (m) Claude Hopkins, (l) Alex Hill (1932)
‘Jambalaya (on the Bayou)’ – Hank Williams (1952)
‘(We Shall Walk Through the) Streets of the City’ – traditional
‘Sweet Lorraine’ – (m) Cliff Burwell, (l) Mitchell Parish (1928)
‘Willie the Weeper’ – Frankie ‘Half Pint’ Jaxon (1927)