Monthly Archives: September 2013

Dave Hewitt’s Condonians, 20/09/2013

DAVE HEWITT’S CONDONIANS certainly entertained us here at Farnborough on Friday, 20th September 2013.  Trombonist DAVE had booked ANDY DICKENS (trumpet & vocals), JULIAN MARC STRINGLE (reeds & vocals) RONNIE BOWATER (piano), ANDY LAWRENCE (string bass) and ROD BROWN (drums).  They are all brilliant musicians of course. The repertoire started with that great lively number called ‘At the Jazz Band Ball’, which certainly got us in the mood.  I have selected a few numbers to give you a flavour of the evening (not from being the best, but ones I had a moment to jot down).  There was ‘A Kiss to Build a Dream On’ with a marvellous trumpet solo from Andy – well, super solos from all the front line.  More came, such as ‘Big Butter and Egg Man’ and that Jelly Roll Morton number called ‘Whining Boy Blues’ (I can recall Andy (D) hitting top ‘C’ so smoothly).  I wrote ‘lovely jubbly’ against the next (Fats Waller) number called ‘Black and Blue’.  Then came a favourite of mine called ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’, which was absolutely wonderful.  (It brought back a time when I walked bare-footed in Berkeley Square – Keith and I had just got together. nearly 30years ago and were ‘painting the town’ – oh lovely memories)….  back to Friday, they then played ‘Lou-Easy-An-I-A’, Dave played his baritone horn (excellent), plus Rod gave a brilliant drum solo.  Keith, who was dancing with me at the time, got carried away and started tap dancing and moving his hands to the drums, so funny. and ‘Buddies Habits’ which has a very fast tempo, fabulous.  Next was Julian’s Solo, playing an amazing tenor sax to ‘Back Home Again in Indiana’, what a talent (and he can sing too)!  ‘I Can’t Get Started With You’ was superb, it’s such a lovely number.  Then came their finale ‘Bourbon Street Parade’ and was certainly a fantastic number to finish on.  It has a really good beat, so plenty of dancers enjoyed it.  I hope you can visualise how marvellous the evening was, so that maybe some of you reading this will be tempted to check us out for yourselves, as to what a fun time we all have here at Farnborough Jazz Club, here in Kent.

Keep jazzing.

Diane and Keith

 

‘A Kiss to Build a Dream On’ – (m) Harry Ruby, (l) Bert Kalmar & Oscar Hammerstein II (1935)
‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square’ – (m) Manning Sherwin, (l) Eric Maschwitz (1939)
‘At The Jazz Band Ball’ – (m) Nick LaRocca, Larry Shields (1917) (l) added by Johnny Mercer (1950)
‘Back Home Again in Indiana’ – Ballard MacDonald & James F. Hanley (1917)
‘Big Butter and Egg Man’ – Percy Venable (1926)
‘Black and Blue’ – (m) Fats Waller, (l) Harry Brooks & Andy Razaf (1929)
‘Bourbon Street Parade’ – Paul Barbarin (c. 1953)
‘Buddy’s Habits’ – Arnet Nelson & Charles T Straight (1923)
‘I Can’t Get Started With You’ – (m) Vernon Duke, (l) Ira Gershwin (1936)
‘Lou-i-Easy-An-I-A – Joe Darensbourg (circa 1949)
‘Whining Boy’ – Jelly Roll Morton (1907)

Sara Spencer’s Transatlantic Jazz Band, 13/09/2013

SARAH SPENCER’S TRANSATLANTIC JAZZ BAND made their annual appearance at Farnborough on Friday 13th September 2013. SARAH is a brilliant New Orleans tenor sax player, who must have a huge pair of lungs.  What a strong performance she gives.  The band are more than her friends, they are an extension of her ‘family’, so it is a joy to see them all perform together.  Sarah moved to live in America some 15years ago.  Since 2009, she has made an appearance at Farnborough during her annual tour back home.  As I said last week, she has a wonderful dynamic personality and her playing certainly depicts this.  Since the first time Sarah appeared with us back in ‘Badgers Mount Jazz Club’ days, she has played at The Purcell Rooms in London’s Festival Halls, plus world-wide festivals and of course, USA.  STEVE GRAHAM was on trumpet (who was with ‘The Panama Jazz Kings’), GEOFF COLE was on trombone (who was with Ken Colyer’s Band and his own Red Hot Five Band), ANNIE HAWKINS was on double bass (was a founder member with Max Collie’s Rhythm Aces, also with Ken Colyer and Sammy Rimington Bands), ANDY MAYNARD on banjo (was with New Orleans Echoes) and CHRIS MARCHANT on drums (was with Frog Island Jazz Band).  The band, I know, thoroughly enjoyed themselves, playing some great number.  I think it was Steve’s first appearance here at Farnborough.  His trumpet playing was beautiful and a delight to welcome. The first number I noted was ‘Mobile Stomp’, to which I remarked ‘Really full on and hot – fantastic’!  ‘Get out of Here and Go on Home’ was another number with a great beat and we had a few dancers appreciating it too.  Naturally they played Ken Colyer’s big hit from 1956, namely ‘All the Girls Go Crazy about the Way I Walk’, marvellous!  They followed on with lovely numbers called ‘Under the Bamboo Tree’, ‘I’m With You Where You Are’ and ‘On a Coconut Island’.  I managed to film their last number, ‘I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream’) and if the band don’t object, I will try to load it on this website.  It is good enough for you to enjoy musically, although the film is still too dark to see.   (Update – Video can be found on  Youtube as follows: http://youtu.be/GrVCB5cWxek )

What an evening, I just loved it all.

Diane and Keith

‘All the Girls Go Crazy about the Way I Walk’ – Kid Ory (?)
‘Get Out of Here and Go on Home’ – associated with Buddy Bolden (circa 1900)
‘I’m With You Where You Are’ – I shall return to update
‘I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream’ – Howard Johnson, Billy Moll & Robert King (1927)
‘On a Coconut Island’ – Robert Alexander Anderson (1936)
‘Under the Bamboo Tree’ – (m) J. Rosamond Johnson, (l) Bob Cole (1901)

George Tidiman’s All Stars, 6/09/2013.

‘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

‘Bye, Bye Blues’ – Fred Hamm, Dave Bennett, Bert Lown & Chauncey Gray (w.1925, p.1930)
‘Coney Island Washboard’ – (m) Hampton Durand & Jerry Adams, (l) Ned Nester & Aude
‘Do You Know What It means to Miss New Orleans’ – Eddie DeLange (1947)
‘Ory’s Creole Trombone’ – Edward ‘Kid’ Ory (1921)
‘Route 66’ – Bobby Troup (1946)
‘South Rampart Street Parade’ – (m) Ray Bauduc & Bobby Haggart (1938), (l) Steve Allen (circa 1950)
‘Strike up the Band’ – (m) George Gershwin, (l) Ira Gershwin (1927)

Tony Pitt’s All Stars, 30/8/2013

TONY PITT’S ALL STARS, here last Friday, 30th August 2013, was as expected, BRILLIANT.  TONY PITT, a fabulous banjo player (as mentioned last week), had put together a fantastic bunch of musicians, some of the best names in British jazz and we did not exaggerate.  ROY WILLIAMS was on trombone and as written, was voted No.1 jazz trombonist of the year, on four consecutive years during 1980’s.  He has played with Terry Lightfoot, Alex Welsh and Humphrey Littleton Bands and has guested with many more international stars such as Bud Freeman, Wild Bill Davison and Ruby Braff, it certainly shows.  We were very proud he agreed to play for us – his first and we certainly hope not the last.   ALAN GRESTY was on trumpet.  He has played with Monty Sunshine’s Band for many years.  AL NICHOLLS on soprano & tenor sax (also his first time at Farnborough and hope he returns too).  He has played with Paul Gelato and Blue HarlemANDY LAWRENCE was on double bass and (as previously said last week) was also with Terry Lightfoot for many years.  JOHN ELLMER was on drums.  We found, no CV for him, but Keith and I could vouch for him –he’s brilliant, but what I didn’t tell you, was he is also a marvellous clarinet player (not that he played it last Friday).  Tony’s CV is with such great bands as Alex Welsh, Mike Cotton, Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball, Alan Elsdon, Laurie Chescoe, Terry Lightfoot and our old friend, Phil Mason.  Right at the start, it was full-on hot, hot jazz with their first number ‘I Found a New Baby’.  Next was ‘Lily of the Valley’, with great solos and sung by Alan and of course audience participation (fabulous sax).  ‘Some of These Days’ was superb, with the front line playing a little bit of ‘bells’ (similar to that number ‘Chimes Blues).  Then they played ‘Chinatown, My Chinatown’, with amazing solos from everyone.  The next number was Roy’s feature, called ‘I Love You, Samantha’.  Roy said he hadn’t played it in years.  You wouldn’t have guessed it though, he played it with such sympathy, so beautiful.  Fats Waller’s number ‘Keeping out of Mischief’ was followed with ‘S Wonderful’, which was Alan’s feature.  What a great young player he is – wow.  ‘Davenport Blues’ was Alan’s feature (I was dancing and hadn’t written a remark, except “so pure”, I think that says it all!   They finished off with ‘Blues My Naughty Sweetie’.  What an excellent ending – brilliant.

Look out for Tony’s next date with us, being 18th October 2013.  I wonder who he will book for that date.  Whoever they will be, they cannot better last week, but if it is as good, DON’T MISS IT!

Nice to be able to write such words – but they are all true!!!!

Diane and Keith

Farnborough Jazz Club

‘Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me’ – Charles McCarron, Casey Morgan & Arthur Swanstrom (1919)
‘Chinatown, My Chinatown’ – (m) Jean Schwartz, (l) William Jerome (1910)
‘Davenport Blues’ – Bix Beiderbecke (1925) – named after his hometown.
‘I Found a New Baby’ – Jack Palmer and Spencer Williams (1926)
‘I Love you, Samantha’ – Cole Porter (1956)
‘Keeping out Of Mischief Now’ – Thomas ‘Fats’ Waller (circa 1920’s, r.1937)
‘Lily of the Valley’ – hymn written by William Charles Fry (1837–1882) in London for the Salvation Army.  Ira D. Sankey arranged the words to the music of “The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane” composed by Will Hays
‘Some of These Days’ – Shelton Brooks (1909)
‘S Wonderful’ – (m) George Gershwin, (l) Ira Gershwin (1927)