It was great to see the return of MIKE BARRY’s XXL BAND to FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB (Kent) on FRIDAY, 1st July 2016..  I can’t believe it was back in February 2015 they last played here, but we do have all three of Mike’s band play for us (this one, plus ‘Uptown Gang’ and ‘Yerba Buena Band’).  This band has obviously MIKE himself on trumpet, TIM HUSKISSON on reeds, LES HANSCOMBE on trombone, GRAHAM BARTON on piano, BRIAN STAPLEY on drums and TED SIMKINS on double bass.  They can now be known as MIKE BARRY’s XL BAND because they, well Mike has lost one&half stone – Wow, how’s that?  Well done Mike.  So obviously, they played with a lot of energy, starting with ‘Canal Street Blues’, such a wonderful number to get everyone in the mood – yeah!  ‘Beale Street Mama’ was another excellent tune to choose, I can hear Mike announcing it and finishing the title with the words “I’m Coming To Get You”… luv it.  I have to say the whole band were brilliant when they played ‘Savoy Blues’.  I particularly noted the front line boys playing beautifully in harmony.  Another number to mention is ‘Washington and Lee Swing’.  This is an old American high school football ‘fight’ song.  It was also used in Red Nichols film, ‘The Five Pennies’, a film I probably saw in 1960’s and remember being absolutely excited by (gonna watch it again over the weekend!).   Moving on … ‘Hello Central Give Me Dr Jazz’ sung brilliantly by Les.  A tune enjoyed being played by most bands too.  I had a wonderful dance – the cha, cha, cha, with Steve to ‘The Isle of Capri’.  I just loved it, although I think it should have been a tango – ha.  Oh well, we are so relaxed here, nobody worries.  During the interval, I announced Colin & his wife Jo Dobson, were in the audience.  Colin had been trumpeter for The Billy Cotton Band Show (of ‘Wakey, Wakey’ fame).  It is to be Colin’s 87th birthday on Monday (4th) and their 65th wedding anniversary this Thursday (7th), fabulous – congrats.  It will also be bass player Ted’s wife, Francis’ birthday too (on Wednesday 6th) I believe Francis is about my age – 30several and a bit more!  So the band returned and played ‘Happy Birthday’ to them all.  (by-the-way, Jo told me she had married a toy-boy as her next birthday (in October) will be her 88th).  ‘Hold That Tiger’ (probably played for Jo) is another exciting tune, sung by Les, with wonderful solos from Tim and Ted and surely the whole band were exhausted at the end of this one.  This tune is apparently another old American high school ‘fight’ song.  Now dear ol’ Mike performed to my next song choice – and I mean ‘performed’.  He ‘spoke’ all the famous lines of ‘Ashes to Ashes’ just superbly, which lead on to them playing ‘Didn’t He Ramble’.  They played fabulously, I can’t fault anyone as they were all so good.  Their last number was ‘Down By The Riverside’, ending another thoroughly wonderful evening full of great talent and lots of laughs.  Sorry, no photos, Mike is still away, and although I took some photos with my very old mobile phone, they are ‘trapped’ in it and will take me a time to work it out again!, Although don’t hold your breathe as to what they will be like.  Anyway, keep coming for more jazz!  We have a different band here every Friday evening.

Diane and Keith

P.S. Yerba Buena Jazz Band Newsletter of 26th June 2015 has now been updated.

‘Beale Street Mama’ – J Russel Robinson & Roy Turk (1922)

‘Canal Street Blues’ – Joe ‘King’ Oliver (1923)

‘Oh! Didn’t He Ramble’ – (m) Will Handy (i.e. J. Rosamond Johnson), (l) James Weldon Johnson & Bob Cole (1902)

‘Down By the Riverside (Study War No More)’ – traditional/Gospel song first published 1918

‘Hello Central, Give Me Doctor Jazz’ – Joe ’King’ Oliver & Walter Melrose (1926)

‘Tiger Rag’ – written & played by Original Dixieland Jazz Band (1917) (many others claim!)

‘Savoy Blues’ – Edward ‘Kid’ Ory (1927)

‘Isle of Capri’ – (m) Wilhelm Grosz (aka Hugh Williams), (l) by Jimmy Kennedy (1934)

‘Washington & Lee Swing’ – (m) Mark W Sheafe, Thorton W Allen (wrote notes 1909), (l) Clarence A (Tod) Robbins (1910)

MIKE BARRY’S XXL BAND was here at Farnborough Jazz Club on Friday 13^th February 2015. Leader MIKE BARRY (trumpeter) had booked JOHN ELLMER (clarinet), REX ODELL (trombone), JOHN STUART (banjo), TREFOR ‘FINGERS’ WILLIAMS (bass) and PAUL BUDD (drums). I told you it would be a super band and with Mike full of smiles, we were sure once again it was going to be a happy evening and of course, it was.

Mike Barry’s XXL Jazz Band with Mike (trmp), Rex Odell (trmb) John Ellmer (sop.sax), John Stuart (bnjo), Trefor ‘Fingers’ Williams (d. bass) & Paul Budd (drums) at Farnborough Jazz Club, 13th Feb2015. Photo by Mike Witt.

Mike Barry’s XXL Jazz Band with Mike (trmp), Rex Odell (trmb) John Ellmer (sop.sax), John Stuart (bnjo), Trefor ‘Fingers’ Williams (d. bass) & Paul Budd (drums) at Farnborough Jazz Club, 13th Feb2015. Photo by Mike Witt.

So here we go again. Are you ready to hear about my usual Friday bumph. I’m not sure it was their first number, but certainly mine to mention, ‘Johnson Rag’ that is. Some of you may remember I wrote to composer Jack Lawrence, just too late as he had only just passed away a year earlier, aged 98. What a great composer. This one of his was such a jolly piece and set the evening up for me. Then Rex sang the next number, ‘Everybody Loves My Baby’ and what a wonderful asset he is to this happy band. He and Mike sang in harmony together, same as they did to the following tune ‘I Wannah Say Hello’ – terrifically. ‘Jo Avery’s Piece’ was our choice to perform our (Charleston style) line-dance.

John Ellmer on tenor sax & Trefor ‘Fingers’ Williams on d. bass with                  Mike Barry’s XXL Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club, 13th February 2015.  Photo by Mike Witt.

John Ellmer played brilliant alto sax with ‘Creole Love Song’, [what a talent he is – being one super drummer too]. Then that oldie followed, ‘Put another Nickel in, In the Nickel Odeon’ also sung by the duo (Mike and Rex). That tune takes me back to when we would sing along at Saturday morning pictures as a little girl – ha. They also played that wonderful tune ‘When the Midnight Choo Leaves for Alabam’ (my sister and I would perform this in shows for all the kids in our neighbourhood – poor things!). Anyway, we did another line dance to that one. One of Bing Crosby’s hits ‘We’re Poor Little Lambs – Ba, Ba, Ba’ came next. Yes, you can guess, we all had a sing-song to this one. It was originally produced by Yale University in 1910.

John Stuart (banjo) with Mike Barry’s XXL Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club, 13Feb2015. Photo by Mike Witt.

My last number to mention was Louis Armstrong’s hit song ‘When The Saints Go Marching In’. This being a rally lively one, finished with huge smiles all round and I don’t know about you, but to see a lot of smiling faces makes me feel a million dollars. Everyone in the band gave their all and were superb, what a great evening. I knew you would leave refreshed and a little lighter (from dancing) ready to face another week.

‘Live’ jazz – you just can’t beat it!

Diane & Keith

‘Creole Love Song’ – dispute between Joe ’King’ Oliver (1923) and Duke Ellington (1927)

‘Everybody Loves My Baby’ – (m) Spencer Williams, (l) Jack Palmer (1924)

I Wanna Say Hello’ – (m) Jimmy MacDonald, (l) Jack Hoffman (1951)

‘Jo Avery’s Piece’ – traditional

‘Johnson Rag’ – (m) Guy Hall, (l) Henry Kleikauf (1917) & updated Jack Lawrence (1940)

‘Music, Music, Music ’ (Put another Nickel in)’ – Stephen Weiss & Bernie Baum (1949)

‘The Wiffenproof `Song We’re Poor Little Lambs, Ba Ba Ba’ [Kipling’s poem] (m) Guy Scull.

                                           (l) Meade Minnigerode (1910)

‘When The Midnight Choo Leaves For Alabam’ – Irving Berlin (1912)

‘When The Saints Go Marching In’ – traditional Gospel

MIKE BARRY’S XXL JAZZ BAND made our audience really pleased to be here at our Farnborough Jazz Club in Kent on Friday, 26^th September 2014. Leader and trumpeter Mike’s band consisted of reeds player GOFF DUBBER, trombonist REX O’DELL, banjo & guitarist JOHN STUART, double bassist ROGER CURPHEY and drummer PAUL BUDD. It was lovely to see them all again.

Mike Barry’s XXL Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club, 26th September 2014.
MIKE BARRY (trumpet), GOFF DUBBER (reeds), REX O’DELL (trombone), JOHN STUART (banjo & guitar), ROGER CURPHEY (double bass) and PAUL BUDD (drums).
Photo by Mike Witt.

To start with, there was plenty of laughing coming from the band BEFORE you (our audience) all arrived, always a good sign they will enjoy entertaining you. They chose a great number to begin with, being (amongst many top stars) Johnnie Ray’s big hit ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’. Rex, who has a super voice, sang it and of course lots of us joined in, knowing most of the words. ‘Beale Street Mama’ had a couple of superb solos, one from John on guitar, plus Roger on double bass. Continuing with my next choice, which was ‘When The Midnight Choo Choo Leaves For Alabam’. This was also sung by Rex, to which several of us chose to do our line-dance. I’m not sure if our bands enjoy us doing it, nor our audience, but we enjoy do the dancing – ha! Next number Mike Witt (who took this super photo) emailed to me, and I quote “It was good to hear Mike Barry’s vocal rendition of “Marching through Georgia”, which is often played by bands of all types, from military through to Trad jazz but which is rarely sung. It commemorates General Sherman’s troops’ epic march through the US state of Georgia during the American Civil War, during which the city of Atlanta was burned”. He continued “Then followed civilian casualties and damage to property as Sherman’s men foraged the local land for food and supplies. Perhaps that’s why it is not often sung publicly, especially in the American south where even whistling the tune can result in a punch-up. Resentment still burns hot there!” Quite a statement, that I had to include it in this newsletter. Mike (B) sang it, with the rest of the band ‘Ahh, Ahhing’ along too. Plenty of dancers out for this one.  After a break, they continued with an old favourite of trad jazz lovers, ‘Dr Jazz’, sung by Goff. It’s amazing how many talented jazz singing musicians there are within the Trad’ world. John took to the guitar for ‘Brown Skin Girls’, again plenty of dancers. Obviously, ‘Ice Cream’ is another bigtime favourite. What they did with their rendition, was to interject with that tune ‘Good Morning’ (from the film ‘Singing In The Rain’) – fabulous. I recall Paul giving a terrific drum solo. Then came a brilliant situation of the evening, when they played overtime on the first section, which was fine. But when they began to do the same with their second break, I called out (so we could do the raffle draw). However, Mike called back “what’s up, we have another three hours to go!” So when it came to the end of the evening and it was all over, I took the ‘mike’ and said “hey, you have another couple of hours to go!” (Then to the audience) “You all witnessed Mike saying they had three hours to do”. It’s marvellous that a band enjoys themselves, so much they do not want to end – just as much as we love listening to their wonderful talent.

Meeting of the Maestros
Colin Dobson, well known on trumpet with the Billy “Wakey, Wakey” Cotton band and a jazz legend in his own right, is a regular visitor to Farnborough Jazz Club where his opinions are often sought by other trumpet virtuosos with regard to their performances. Here Mike Barry, trumpet man with his own XXL band, discusses technical points with Colin over a friendly pint of Spitfire bitter. Photo by Mike Witt.

Now, I have often mentioned we have the delight of receiving in our audience, Colin Dobson (well known on trumpet with ‘Billy Cotton’s Band’ for many years).

‘That will cost you a pint Mike’.
Colin Dobson (well known on trumpet with Billy “Wakey, Wakey” Cotton Band) talking to Mike Barry (left) at Farnborough Jazz Club.
26th September 2014
Photo by Mike Witt.

This evening, Colin was accompanied by his delightful wife, Jo, and lovely family. I loved it that Mike Witt captured these two photos for our website.

Keep jazzing.

Diane and Keith

‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’ – Irving Berlin (1911)

‘Brown Skin Girl’ – Norman ‘King Radio’ Span (1956)

‘Beale Street Mama’ – J Russel Robinson & Roy Turk (1922)

‘Dr Jazz’ – Joe ‘King’ Oliver & Walter Melrose (1926)

‘Good Morning,’ – Nacio Herb Brown, (l) Arthur Freed (1952)

‘I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream For Ice Cream’ – Howard Johnson, Billy Moll & Robert A. K. King (1927)

‘Marching through Georgia’ – Henry Cray Work (1865)

‘When The Midnight Choo Choo Leaves For Alabam’ – Irving Berlin (1912)

The Farnborough Jazz Club proudly presented MIKE BARRY’S XXL JAZZ BAND on Friday, 7^th 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)

MIKE BARRY’S XXL JAZZ BAND, returned here at Farnborough Jazz Club on Friday, 27^th September 2013.  Leader and trumpeter Mike had a bad time getting to us due to his new car not starting, but you would never had known it!  He proudly introduced his band as reeds player GOFF DUBBER, trombonist REX O’DELL, pianist TIM HUSKISSON, double bassist ROGER CURPHEY and drummer PAUL BUDD.  As mentioned last week, they are certainly a swinging, fun filled lot and the evening went well.  Mike reminds me of Paul Whiteman and certainly should have been as successful.  I hope Mike doesn’t take exception to me saying this, because I’m not sure why I think so, especially as PW only played violin/viola.  Maybe I feel he should have played trumpet, being a band leader!  We had some lovely numbers played for us, such as ‘I Wanna Say Hello’, ‘The Jazz Me Blues’, ‘River, Stay Away From My Door’ (which was sung by Mike) and ‘Riverboat Shuffle’.  I just loved how the next number ‘Georgia on My Mind’ was sung up-tempo by Rex, and Mike gave a marvellous rendition on trumpet too.  I jotted down that everyone played wonderful solos especially Roger, to the following number ‘If My Friends Could See Me Now’, (Shirley MacLean’s song in film ‘Sweet Charity’).  It certainly lured the dancers out. They also played ‘Brown Skin Girl’, which was a great calypso number made famous by Harry Belafonte.  I just love a calypso.  Another dance and (I‘m sure you can guess) audience participation occurred with ‘Everybody Loves Saturday Night’, great fun.  The next number to mention was the brilliant feature of Tim.  He played ‘You Took Advantage of Me’, which showed his massive talent (his other hat is as a fabulous clarinettist).  Our line-dancing occurred next with ‘Dr Jazz’.  I always ‘play up’ continuing with the Charleston, which sometimes ‘throws’ the other liners (just for a bit of fun).  Well thank you Mike and gang, we had a small crowd, but we all enjoyed ourselves.  They are back 29^th November 2013, so make a note in your diaries and let’s give them a bigger welcome with a larger audience please.

Keep Happy.

Diane and Keith

‘Brown Skin Girl’ – Norman (‘King Radio’) Spann (1940)

‘Dr Jazz’ – Joe ‘King’ Oliver & Walter Melrose (1926)

‘Everybody Loves Saturday Night’ – Nigerian Folk (made famous Aldwyn ‘Kitch’ Roberts (1940’s)

‘Georgia on My Mind’ – (m) Hoagy Carmichael, (l) Stuart Gorrell (1930)

‘If My Friends Could See Me Now’ – (m) Cy Coleman, (l) Dorothy Fields (1966)

‘I Wanna Say Hello’ – (m) Jimmy McDonald, (l) Jack Hoffman (1051)

‘Riverboat Shuffle’ – (m) Hoagy Carmichael, (l) Irving Mills, Mitchell Parish & Dick Voynow (1924)

‘River Stay Away From My Door’ – Mort Dixon & Harry Woods (1931)

‘The Jazz Me Blues’ – Tom Delaney (1921)

‘You Took Advantage of Me’ – (m) Richard Rodgers, (l) Lorenz Hart (1928)