PHOENIX DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND gave us much pleasure playing at the Farnborough Jazz Club on 5th June 2015. . They certainly had a big act to follow, after last week’s Tony Pitt’s All Stars, but ‘Phoenix’ had no trouble coping at all. ROBIN COOMBS (clarinet), the band’s leader, had his usual guys, PAUL HIGGS (trumpet), BILL TODD (trombone), DAVE BARNES (piano), ROGER CURPHEY (double bass), JOHN STEWART(banjo/guitar), and ALAN CLARKE (drums). We are so lucky to have such talented bands wanting to play here at Farnborough. Mind you, the acoustics are good and you (our audience) certainly show them you’re having fun. So if you haven’t been here before, then don’t hesitate, for a happy evening of jazz and dancing, come and give us a try. Now let me tell you what entertainment the boys delivered to us on this particular evening –what they played!
Band Leader, Robin Coombs (clarinet) and Paul Higgs (trumpet) with Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club on 5th June 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.
Bill Todd on trombone plus Paul Higgs (trumpet) and Roger Curphey (d.bass) with Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) on 5th June 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.
They began with ‘Georgia On My Mind’, a good old favourite and was sung by Bill. I’d also like to mention they played ‘Makin Whoopee’, another favourite and this time sung by all of us (audience). I was dancing to the next number, ‘You Took Advantage of Me’, so no extra little tit-bits, save it was great. What about ‘Strutting With Some Barbeque’, a terrific Louis Armstrong number. This one gave us some wonderful solos from all of them, wowie, just brilliant. Then Dave sang the next ‘Who’s Sorry Now’ and again, our audience joined in.
Bill Todd on trombone and Paul Higgs on trumpet (John Stewart banjo – obscured from view) with Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) on 5th June 2015. Photo By Mike Witt.
Paul was featured next and what a special this was. He performed ‘Flambée Montalbanaise’, one of those tunes you know, although probably not familiar with the name (well I wasn’t – couldn’t find it and had to check it out with Paul himself). He is a composer, so I thought it may have been something he had composed himself. Also, I had written the word ‘melodic’, so thought I had meant the tune was quite beautiful, but no, I had missed off the ‘a’ and it was actually what he was playing!!! All I do know is he was pretty spectacular. The next number was tremendous ‘China Town’ and I made a special note of the banjo, so John must have excelled.
Dave Barnes on piano and Roger Curphey on double bass with the Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) on 5th June 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.
John Stewart plays guitar with Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) on 5th June 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.
Robin played ‘Petite Fleur’ next and just a wonderful job he made of it too. They completed the evening with a great number ‘Twenty Four Robbers’, which was sung by Dave – just love this and they left us feeling so happy. Thanks Robin and your boys. Another super evening.
Another great photo of Roger Curphey (double bass) – a real action one playing with Alan Clarke (drums) for Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) on 5th June 2015, Photo By Mike Witt.
Great picture aye? Showing Alan Clarke (drums) and Roger Curphey (double bass) enjoying his pint with the Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) on 5th June 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.
Keep jazz ‘live’ and support the club.
Yours hosts, Diane and Keith
P.S. I have managed to upload our filming published on YouTube – yeah I know – almost a clever clogs! It is still a work in progress though. See Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces for 1st May 2015 (at end).