How about the GOLDEN EAGLE JAZZ BAND who were with us once again at our Farnborough Jazz Club on Friday 25th April 2014? I know I’m just going to upset you though, if you missed them! Another fabulous evening of fun entertainment. The audience thoroughly enjoyed themselves, as did the band. Their leader, KEVIN SCOTT has a wonderful sense of humour all the time and I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love a laugh, as well as appreciating talented musicians giving their all. Kevin, who plays tenor banjo, had MIKE SCROXTON on trumpet, ALAN CRESSWELL on clarinet, ROY STOKES on trombone & vocals, MIKE BROAD on double bass and PETE JACKMAN on drums. Honestly, this is another wonderfully popular band. I mentioned last week that at one time, I had a quick peek into their own website, just to check name spellings [www.gejb.webeden.co.uk – click on ‘Home-The Golden Eagle Jazz Band’]. I had forgotten we had posted a comment to the band. Most likely adapted from our own website, but temporarily lost, so I asked you to check it out to remind yourselves of their very first evening here (when I get a moment, I’ll try to retrieve all lost newsletters from the past!). As for this Friday, I now have to decide what numbers to mention and it won’t be easy, as I picked so many! Well, they began the evening with ‘Red Wing’. Kevin introduced it, saying it had some reference to a battle tune – about the time of the American Civil War. Ken Colyar recorded it in 1955. What a great start! Then came a Paul Whiteman number ‘There’s Yes! Yes! In Your Eyes’ and was sung by Mike (another good jazz singer). I always love to mention ‘Ciribiribin’, whenever it is played, because when looking it up a couple of years back, I got to make contact with the person who helped Jack Lawrence (co-composer) to write one of his book. Jack was still writing to fans almost right up to his death aged 97yrs, brilliant. Colin Dobson and his wife Jo and family came to see the band. Colin being part of the trumpet section in the Billy Cotton Band Show (remember ‘Wakey, Wakey’ fame). The boys played Billy Cotton’s signature tune ‘Somebody Stole My Gal’. Mike sang it and of course we all sang along too. Anther tune well worth a mention was ‘Lord, Lord, Lord’, because they played it a storm, really swinging. I had written down ‘Brilliant’. They are a sitting band, but the front line (including Kevin) stood up to play mid-stream – quite effective. Alan was featured next with George Lewis’ signature tune ‘Burgundy Street’. Alan was superb (accompanied by Mike and Kevin), I don’t think there was a sound from the audience, whilst he played, but huge applause ensued. Another wonderful bit of fun was when they played ‘I Thank You Mr Moon’, because Mike sang the main part, with Kevin and Alan joining in doing their ‘Boswell Sisters’ act, definitely their party piece, ha. My last number to mention is ‘I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream’. What a great job Kevin did singing it too and of course once again the audience joined in. Just a little added anecdote, before the audience arrived, I asked Kevin if he could give me a list of numbers they might be playing (so I could just put my remarks only). When he gave it to me, I said I don’t suppose you will stick to it, but it will help me, to which he replied ‘How very dare you’ (Katherine Tate style)! Mike chimed in with ‘I expect she wants to give it to George Tidiman’ – lovely humour. Anyway, wherever this band plays, be sure to go along. You certainly won’t regret it, they are such fun and very enthusiastic. Their next date with us is Friday 1st August 2014, please put a note in your diaries to come.
We aim to please with ‘Live’ music.
Diane and Keith