‘BOB DWYER’S BIX & PIECES’, came on Friday, 25th September 2015 to our Farnborough Jazz Club.
Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces at Farnborough Jazz Club on 25th September 2015. With Bob on trombone, Max Emmons on Trumpet, John Lee on reeds, Hugh Crozier on piano, John Bayne on d.bass & bass sax and Burt Butler on banjo, Photo by Mike Witt.
Trombonist & vocalist, BOB had MAX EMMONS on trumpet, JOHN LEE on clarinet & tenor sax, JOHN BAYNE on double bass & bass sax, HUGH CROZIER on piano, BURT BUTLER on banjo and CHRIS MARCHANT on drums. The evening began with a few horrors, including a huge traffic jam on the M25, so the band arrived after an horrendous journey. As one would expect, the first number was a little strained, but they soon got into stride and the whole evening’s music took charge of us and we certainly danced the evening away. I first took note of ‘Sunday’, a lovely happy tune, with a good tempo for dancing and sung by Bob. This was followed by ‘Creole Love Song’, giving more of a slower tempo for a waltz. However, the next tune was ‘Fidgety Feet’, very much ‘up tempo’ to which we performed our line-dance – wowie, another exhausting choice. Then what about ‘South’, another swinging tune – wonderful.
Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces at Farnborough Jazz Club 25Sep2015. Bob (pic) -trombone, Max Emmons (pic) trumpet, John Lee (reeds), Hugh Crozier (pic) piano, John Bayne (d.bass &bass sax), Chris Marchant (pic) drums & guest Burt Butler (banjo). Photo by Mike Witt.
John Lee (tenor sax) and Hugh Crozier (piano) at Farnborough Jazz Club with Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces. 25th September 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.
Hugh also has a super voice ‘Hard Hearted Hannah’ being one of his special songs he enjoys singing and did so with much gusto. Next came Max, doing his bit’ with ‘Snag It’ and again, another super voice, PLUS adding his performance on harmonica – what a wonderful show.
Burt Butler (banjo) & John Bayne (bass sax) at Farnborough Jazz Club with Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces, 25th September 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.
The next tune was brilliantly implemented by John (B) on ‘Big Bertha’ (Bass Sax). He played solo with the first verse of ‘Blue Skies’. Oh I just love him. Then came ‘My Little Bimbo’. Our guest player Burt sang it and of course he is quite a favourite character and known in these parts with his own band “Burt Butler’s Jazz Pilgrims”.
They continued on with ‘Diggin’ My Potatoes’, Max is just brilliant with this one and I think the rest of the band all joined in with harmonizing. We had another go (oh, just four of us!) at a line-dance to ‘Puttin On the Ritz’, well it is just a perfect tune for our ‘Charleston’ effort to it. Finally, once again, Bob asked them all to play ‘Nice To Know You Care’ for Keith and me, the music being written by our dear late-friend Leslie Baguley (a big hit from the ‘40’s).
Diane and Keith‘
‘Blue Skies’ – Irving Berlin (1926)
‘Creole Love Song’ – dispute between Joe ’King’ Oliver (1923) and Duke Ellington, (l) Billy Strayham (1927)
‘Diggin My Potatoes’ – Huddie Ledbetter (1948)
‘Fidgety Feet’ – Nick LaRocca & Larry Shields (1919)
‘My Little Bimbo Down On The Bamboo Isle’ – (m) Walter Donaldson, (l) Grant Clarke (1920)
‘Nice To Know You Care’ – (m) Leslie Baguley, (l) Norman Newell (1947)
‘Puttin’ On The Ritz’ – Irving Berlin (1929)
‘South’ – Thamon Hayes & Bennie Moten (1924)
‘Hard Hearted Hannah’ – (m&l) Jack Yellen & Milton Ager, Bob Bigelow & Charles Bates (1924)
‘Sunday’ – Ned Miller & Chester Cohn (1926)
‘Snag It’ – Joe’King’ Oliver (1928)
Diane and Keith
P.S. Sorry, I’m still way behind on newsletters, although I have caught up on some – see Tony Pitt’s All Stars, 19th May 2015 and Barry Palser’s Super Six, 27th February & 19th June 2015, plus Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces, 10 July 2015
N.B. Today (23rd September 2015) is the first day of the Autumn Equinox. The South Pole will see a glimpse of daylight for the first time in six months and the North Pole enters six months of dark – hmmm. Here in Kent, it is a beautiful morning – sunny and hot, with not a cloud in the wonderful blue sky. I had been swimming early this morning. Stopped off at Holwood Farm, Shire Lane (near Biggin Hill) for some tea and scones. I sat outside in the sun and enjoyed a lone Spitfire, with its Black & white striped D-Day markings on its wings, obviously enjoying himself and still around after Monday’s commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain How I wish I had been up there with him. However, I feel lucky to be alive on such a glorious day, one to remember.
Xtra…. This was all repeated this morning (25th September). The Spitfires are from Biggin Hill Heritage Hanger – see their website: Fly A Spitfire.co.uk – you can hire a flight with them – think of this if you need an idea to give a very special present to that someone who has everything. I also found out that Wednesday’s pilot was Don Sigourney and today’s was Richard Verral, who both flew on the D-Day Commemorations.