2015 already! I can’t believe it. Anyway, BOB DWYER’S BIX & PIECES entertained us for our first gig of the year, on Friday, 9^th January 2015 here at the Farnborough Jazz Club, Kent. I remember Bromley (Kent) man H.G. Wells’ book and the film ‘1984’, which all seemed so futuristic and now we are still enjoying wonderful songs from the 1915/30’s era. Oh no, they are not old fashioned, the tunes are still used for adverts on TV today! Now let me tell you of the happy little evening we once again had.  Leader BOB (trombone & vocals) had booked DAVE RANCE on trumpet, cornet & flugelhorn. I said last week that we thought it was his first time here, and so wished him a warm welcome to our club. I actually said to Keith I thought I recognised his name. Well, when Dave walked in, I did recognise him, because he has played for us before with the Yerba Buena Jazz Band. Dave certainly fitted in with the rest of the gang, who were BERNIE HOLDEN on clarinet & sax, HUGH CROZIER on piano & vocals, JOHN BAYNE on double bass & bass sax, JOHN STUART on banjo & vocals and LAURIE CHESCOE on drums.

The evening was to be the first of my mid-week birthday celebrations. I shall finish celebrating next Friday, because I’m greedy that way – ha. ‘Moose March’, what an excellent number to kick start the evening (well for me – I missed the first one due to people pouring through the door). Anyway, Dave was super on trumpet. Then Bernie had a great solo, plus Bob did a lovely job with singing ‘Baby, Won’t You Please Come Home’. Likewise Bob did so with ‘No Regrets’. I wonder Bob, did you choose this number, an Édith Piaf number as she was born in 1915. But for whatever reason, nice one Bob. Then I just have to mention Irving Berlin’s ‘Puttin on the Ritz’, one that they play often for us and of course we appeared on the dance floor for our (Charleston-style) line-dance with seven or eight of us. You better come and join us with this before we start progressing to a higher level or even go professional– ha.

I filmed the band playing it, but it is too dark (I will try to sort), however, I must say it is certainly wonderful to hear – Hugh is brilliant, not only with his piano playing, but singing too, John Bayne comes over terrific with his bass sax – oh by the by, I’m always praising Bob’s singing, but he is pretty fabulous on trombone too. To continue, Dave showed us how well he sings and Bob joined in with a little harmonising to ‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love’ wonderful job fellas. Then ‘Kansas City Kitty’ was a pretty rousing up-tempo number for dancing, sung by Bob and played brilliantly by everyone. It’s one of those numbers you know how it goes when they start playing, but cannot remember what it is called – enjoyable though. This was followed on by Hugh singing ‘Good Morning Blues’, another number that you know when it is sung. Well done Hugh.

After a break, they came on and played ‘Lilly of the Valley’, which was sung wonderfully by Dave, plus I must mention Laurie, who performed a marvellous drum solo. Keith said not many people would realise it is more difficult to perform a solo to a slow number, than to a fast one.  It was Hugh’s turn to sing the next number, being ‘You’re Driving Me Crazy’ and what a performance.

I must mention (or have I said it before – ha) just how brilliant John Bayne is on ‘Big Bertha’. He played it (bass sax I mean) during ‘Singing the Blues’, which brought on plenty of dancers. Bob always makes Keith and I feel good by playing and singing our song ‘Nice to Know You Care’ and as it was my pre-birthday celebration, he/they didn’t disappoint us, so thanks. Now you know what a lovely evening we all have – plenty of NICE hours, how about joining us next Friday, 16^th January 2015. We have ‘Lord Napier Hotshots’ for my last birthday celebration evening. Hey, don’t forget our new times, it all kicks off at 8.00pm (ending at 11.00pm).

Always enjoy ‘live’ music, preferably with us.

Diane and Keith

‘Baby Won’t You Please Come Home’ – (m) Charles Warfield, (l) Clarence Williams (1919)

‘Good Morning Blues’ – H. Ledbetter & A. Lomax (1941)

‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love’ – Jimmy McHugh, (l) Dorothy Fields (1928)

                                        (Although it’s believed by ‘Fats’ Waller, who sold it on when broke)

‘Kansas City Kitty’ – (m) Walter Donaldson, (l) Edgar Leslie (1929)

‘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

‘Moose March’ – Hans P. Flath (1910)

‘Nice To Know You Care’ – (m) Leslie Baguley, (l) Norman Newell (1947)

‘No Regrets’ – (m) Roy Ingraham (l) Harry Tobias (1936)

‘Puttin On the Ritz’ – Irving Berlin (1929)

‘Singing the Blues’ Frankie Trumbauer, Bix Beiderbeck & Eddie Lang (1927)

‘You’re Driving Me Crazy’ – Walter Donaldson (1930)