Monthly Archives: July 2014

Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band, 25th July 2014

PHOENIX DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND was our band on 25th July 2014 at the Farnborough Jazz Club. Leader ROBIN COOMBS had an excellent line-up with PAUL HIGGS on trumpet, BILL TODD on trombone, DAVE BARNES on piano, ROGER CURPHEY on double bass, JOHN STUART on banjo & guitar and ALAN CLARKE on drums. Their performance was as expected just wonderful, they all compliment one-another so well. So how did the evening progress? Well, their first number was ‘Strutting with some Barbecue’. I do hope you are not getting too bored with any repeat adjectives, because here comes one! They started brilliantly! Next number I jotted down was ‘Georgia On My Mind’, sang by Bill, who has a very pleasant jazz voice. The dancers certainly enjoyed my next choice, ‘Jazz Me Blues’and then Dave gave the ragtime number ‘Wolverine Blues’ a great run for our money. Bill sang ‘White Cliffs of Dover’, with everyone playing fantastically, encouraging more dancing too.  Paul, with his shiny green coloured trumpet gets better (if that is at all possible) every time we hear him. ‘West End Blues’ was one he wowed us with – a wonderful melodic trumpet. As for Alan’s drumming with ‘Caravan’, his solo was full of excitement and one can see why he is also a drum teacher. The rest of the engine and front line were superb too.  As I said last week, nothing like ‘live’ entertainment. It was lovely to see a couple of new faces (hope you come back), especially as some regulars were unable to make it (for very good reasons), although they all forgot their letters from their mums!

Diane and Keith

‘Caravan’ – (m) Juan Tizol, (l) Irving Mills (1937)
‘Georgia on My Mind’ – (m) Hoagy Carmichael, (l) Stuart Gorrell (1930)
‘Jazz Me Blues’ – Tom Delaney (1920)
‘Struttin’ With Some Barbecue’ – (m) Lil Hardin Armstrong (Louis’ 2nd wife) (1927), (l) Don Raye (added 1941)
‘West End Blues’ – Joe ’King’ Oliver, (l) Clarence Williams (1928) (famed by Louis Armstrong)
‘White Cliffs of Dover’ – (m) Walter Kent, (l) Nat Burton (1941)
‘Wolverine Blues’ – (m) Jelly Roll Morton, (l) Benjamin F & John C. Spikes (1923)

‘New Orleans Heat’, Friday, 18th July 2014

‘NEW ORLEANS HEAT’ were here as part of their tour, entertaining us at Farnborough Jazz Club on Friday, 18th July 2014. This highly popular 7-piece New Orleans jazz band, is led by BARRY GRUMMETT on piano with musicians GWYN LEWIS on long cornet, MIKE TAYLOR on trombone, JOHN SCANTLEBURY on reeds, TONY PEATMAN on banjo, COLIN BUSHALL on drums and HARRY SLATER on double bass. As you will see in the note at the bottom, they fare from differing parts of the UK. They had all set out from their homes early lunch time. First, four of them arrived and we began with a quintet, being Barry on piano, Mike on trombone, Harry on double bass and Tony of banjo. Trumpeter JOHN LONGLEY was in our audience and stepped up to help make it a quintet (thanks John). Their first number was ‘When You and I Were Young, Maggie’ with John Longley singing. Such a super start and showed their professionalism. Then about 9.00pm, Gwyn, Colin and John (S) arrived. They had been trapped in a traffic jam nearby on M25 for a couple of hours, but still went straight on to play for us without a break! Musicians are a very special breed, aren’t they? Colin was super special, when you think he had to somehow to set up his drums with the band still playing. Thanks boys. The band then played ‘Seems Like Old Times’, with Gwyn singing – still in his shorts from travelling. He has great legs, beautifully set off with his short black socks :0), shame he changed at the break! Wild Bill Davison became a friend of both Keith’s and David Capstick’s, when they were running the Steering Wheel Club (Wild Bill was in UK playing with the Alex Welsh band). Keith and I both thought Gwyn sounded just like Wild Bill, absolutely fantastic whilst playing ‘Sleepy Time Down South’. Then came ‘Rebecca, Rebecca, Get Your Big Legs Off of Me’, againsang by Gwyn and in which they all played their socks off (Gwyn’s too, ha) – of course frightening off the violent storm we had just witnessed outside (just like Glen Miller scared off a doodlebug in the film, hmmm)! Trombonist Mike was featured next with that beautiful Cole Porter number ‘I Love Paris’. He used mutes and was marvelous. My next number to write about was Burgundy Street Blues. It was John’s turn to be featured on clarinet. Yes, you’ve guessed, another superb piece of musicianship. Our line dancers (moi included) enjoyed dancing to ‘Angry’ (Louis Armstrong’s signature tune). John sang this one – great. ‘Goodnight Irene’ obviously was sang by all of us and their last number was a wonderful bit of boogie playing by Barry with ‘Kansas City’. We suggest this band should not to be missed, so if they ever come your way, go see them (they are presently on tour in Sweden). They were to have returned in December, but it was decided it would be wiser for them to return sometime next year in warmer weather (especially with Gwyn, on occasions, travelling from Sweden).

Please note John Longley’s own band The Halstead Hotshots, play every 2nd Tuesday each month at The Cock Inn (Halstead, Kent, TN14 7DD). You can spend a very pleasant afternoon enjoying a pint or three with possibly a meal, listening to the jazz from 2:00-4:00pm (jug collection only). They played in the garden last time, with it being a warm, sunny afternoon. (I recall Keith played there on many occasions in the 80’s with ‘Manhatton Jazz’).

Keep on enjoying your jazz.

Cheers,

Diane and Keith

N.B. Barry travels from Loughborough, Glyn from Swansea, Mike from Sheffield, John from Cardiff, Tony from Lincoln, Colin from Gloucestershire and Harry from Long Eaton in Derbyshire and then play for us.

‘Angry’ – (m) Henry & Merritt Brunies & Jules Cassard (l) Dudley Mecum (1925)
‘Burgundy Street Blues’ – George Lewis (1944)
‘Good Night Irene’ – Huddie Ledbetter (1908)
‘I Love Paris’ – Cole Porter (1953)
‘Kansas City’ – (m) Mike Stoller, (l) Jerry Leiber (1952)
‘Rebecca, Rebecca, Get Your Big Legs Off of Me’ – Pete K.H. Johnson & Big Joe Turner (circa 1938)
‘Seems Like Old Times’ – Carmen Lombardo & John Jacob Loeb (1945)
‘Sleepy Time Down South’- (m&l) Clarence Muse with brothers Leon & Otis René (1931)
‘When You and I Were Young, Maggie’ – (m) James. A Butterfield, (l) George W Hamilton (1864-66)

Laurie Chescoe’s Reunion Band, Friday, 11th July 2014

The great ‘LAURIE CHESCOE’S REUNION BAND’ delighted our audience (again) on Friday, 11th July 2014 at the FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB. Drummer Laurie reunited musicians ALLAN (‘Lord Arsenal’) BRADLEY on trumpet, piano & vocals, JOHN LEE on reeds, ROY WILLIAMS on trombone, HUGH CROZIER on piano & vocals, JIM DOUGLAS on banjo, guitar and PETER SKIVINGTON on bass guitar/bass ukulele. The first number I noted down was ‘Alone Together’, although I remember it was great, I didn’t have time to make extra notes (either busy on ‘the door’, or enjoying a dance). The next number, I recall to begin with, we weren’t sure what to expect. It featuring Hugh with ‘Blaze Away’. However, as it commenced, I recalled that it just happened to be the ‘Saturday morning pictures’ signature song sang as ‘Members of the ABC’ – remember? We all double-time clapped and one audient (Don) emulated a bit from the two Ronnies’ comedy routine. Such a happy bit of simple fun. The next number brought out our line dancers to the floor with ‘As Long As I Live’. (It was written by Arlon and Koel’s for the last show at Cotton Club Parade in 1934 and sung by Lena Horne aged 16!). ‘Young & Healthy’ featured Hugh and Laurie making a great duet (another one written for the film ‘42nd Street’ in which Dick Powell sang). John Lee was featured next with ‘Black and Blue’ and can he play that sax – simply magic.   What a wonderful treat the next number gave us, because it featured Roy Williams this time, playing ’Body and Soul’ (it gives one goose pimples). Now the following number was ‘Carioca’ and takes me back to when I was about 14yrs old. I saw the film it was in – ctrl+click on www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVpFBoj-zeY (thanks Shaun Coruble).  I just loved the dancing and fell in love with the song, so much so, I placed a special order for the record from Dobells of Charing X Rd, London.   ‘I Thank You Mr Moon’ sung by ‘his Lordship’, is one of the band’s favourite and we certainly enjoy them playing it. The last number was ‘China Boy’ and everyone left with big smiles on their faces.

Update:  Sunday lunchtime T.V. 27th July – two weeks after this gig, I watched ‘Flying Down To Rio’! The film that had the ‘Carioca’ dance!!!!!! Co-incidence?  Or did Laurie know the film was going to be aired?

Cheers,

Diane and Keith

‘Alone Together’ – (m) Arthur Schwarz, (l) Howard Dietz (1932)
‘As Long As I Live’ – (m) Harold Arlen, (l) Ted Koehler (1934)
‘Black and Blue’ – (m) Fats Waller, (l) Harry Brooks & Andy Razaf (1929)
‘Blaze-Away’ – (m) Abraham ‘Abe’ Holzmann (1901)
’Body and Soul’ – (m) Johnny Green (l) Edward Heyman, Robert Sour and Frank Eyton (1930)
‘Carioca’ – (m) Vincent Youmans, (l) Edward Eliscu & Gus Khan (1933)
‘China Boy’ – Phil Boutelje & Dick Winfree (1922)
‘I Thank You, Mr. Moon’ – Abel Baer, Dolly Morse & Dave Oppenheim (1931)
‘Young and Healthy’ – (m) Harry Warren, (l) Al Dubin (1933)

George ‘Kid’ Tidiman’s All Stars, 4/07/2014

GEORGE ‘KID’ TIDIMAN’S ALL STARS was the band chosen for FRIDAY, 4th JULY 2014 here at our FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB. Trombonist GEORGE, always the entertainer, had booked PETER LEONARD on trumpet, TIM HUSKISSON on clarinet, ‘SOUTHEND BOB’ ALLBUT on banjo, JOHN SIRETT on double bass and BILL FINCH on drums. George et al certainly did make sure we all enjoyed ourselves, which helped Colin Dobson, with wife Jo and family, enjoy his birthday and their wedding anniversary. Colin was trumpeter with Billy Cotton’s Band Show (of “Wakey-Wake aaaay” fame). Oh, also it was the 238th anniversary of the American Independence Day, so last week I suggested a few of you Yankees might join us (I had a funny story to relate – see end of this newsletter). However, none of you came – shame, you missed a great evening and a chance to ‘lord it’ over us Limeys – ha. Anyway, to relate to the evening, some dancers were lured onto the floor to the first number ‘You Always Hurt the One You Love’, which was sung by Bob (brilliant voice). They had a hiccup at one point, much to the audience’s delight, especially when George said “It was a brand new arrangement of ours” :0)! There were some great solos by all with ‘My Old Kentucky Home’ and then Bob performed some great scat to ‘Royal Garden Blues’. Afterwards, George recalled playing here some years ago with Bill Brunskill before the club’s extension (if I can find when, I will update here later). He recalled the club was half the size and the band played from the other end of the room. We were packed to the gunnels in those days – a typical smoked-filled jazz club atmosphere too (no smoke today, but still friendly atmosphere)! The number (which Bob sang) was ‘Alice Blue Gown’. By the by, the tune was written for Teddy Roosevelt’s daughter. The next number was definitely for America’s Independence Day, although written for their civil war, which was ‘Marching Through Georgia’, to which the front line played a great cavalry replica, brilliant! Another tune ‘I Get the Blues When It Rains’ is a good old favourite of George’s. He made some remark to Bob about it being another Miles Davis classic! This was followed with George playing the swannee whistle superbly for the next tune ‘My Little Bimbo Down on The Bamboo Isle’. What came next was especially played for Colin, as it was Billy Cotton’s signature tune, namely ‘Somebody Stole My Gal’ and of course we all joined in singing. The last number ‘South Rampart Street Parade’ is a favourite of Keith’s and was played fabulously by all. Sorry to keep repeating myself, but another wonderful evening to remember. George ‘Kid’ Tidiman’s All Stars will be doing our Xmas Party this year (19th December 2014)

Cheers,

Diane and Keith

N.B. My funny story about American Independence Day took place in 1976 (the Bicentenary year). My family were to visit, first my sister-in-law, married to an American and living there and then to pop over to my own sister living in Canada. They both asked if I could bring some tea bags as they couldn’t get good tea in those days (although they had that year, but forgot to tell me!). So we appeared at Los Angeles customs with two boxes of 400! When asked if we had anything to declare, any food stuff etc, I replied ‘No, oh yes- tea bags”. When asked how many, (800!), he asked, much to everyone’s amusement, “Have you come for the Boston Tea Party?” He passed us straight on, ha. I know-I haven’t changed.

‘Alice Blue Gown’ – (m) Harry Tierney, (l) Joseph McCarthy (1919)
‘I Get the Blues When It Rains’ – (m) Harry Stoddard, (l) Marcy Klauber (1926)
‘Marching through Georgia’ – Henry Cray Work (1865)
‘My Little Bimbo Down on The Bamboo Isle’ – (m) Walter Donaldson, (l) Grant Clarke (1920)
‘Royal Garden Blues’ – Clarence & Spencer Williams (1919) ‘Somebody Stole My Gal’
‘South Rampart Street Parade’ – (m) Ray Bauduc & Bobby Haggart (1938), (l) Steve Allen (circa 1950)
‘My Old Kentucky Home’ – Stephen Foster (circa 1853)
‘You Always Hurt the One You Love’ – (m) Doris Fisher, (l) Allan Roberts (1944)

Sorry, still haven’t been unable to update 4April Newsletter, I haven’t forgotten, just misplaced my notes!