‘NEW ORLEANS HEAT’ returned to us again at the Farnborough Jazz Club on Friday, 22nd November 2013 A 7-piece band, with leader BARRY GRUMMETT on piano, GWYN LEWIS on trumpet, MIKE TAYLOR on trombone, JOHN SCANTLEBURY on reeds, TONY PEATMAN on banjo, COLIN BUSHALL on drums and HARRY SLATER on double bass. 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, pretty amazing lot aren’t they. We had a good turn out for them, with a newish unexpected group of six ladies, plus another new group of four ladies. Of course that helps to make our male audience happy (better not say it makes the band happy, their wives may not like it – ha)! With a bigger audience, it was not easy to catch names of the tunes. I do know the dance floor was certainly very busy all the time, me too! I first jotted down ‘Salute to Ohio Blues’. Then ‘Oh Lady Be Good’, which was sung by John. Then a lovely dancing number I haven’t heard in a while, called ‘Ti-Pi-Tin’, wonderful. ‘Let Me Call You Sweetheart’ was next. Now you have guessed, plenty of singing from the audience, but lots of dancing too. ‘New Second Line (Jo Avery’s Piece)’ was one of those numbers you just know, but can’t recall its name – fabulously played. Then came Gordon’s request, called ‘All the Girls Go Crazy’ famously played by trumpeter William ‘Bunk’ Johnson. Then there was a special feature of Gwyn’s, accompanied by Tony. The number was ‘This Moonlite Power’. Gwyn also sang this so powerfully, he was terrific. My last number to mention is ‘Should I’, again marvellous. I then was so busy dancing, I failed to write down anymore – just enjoying every moment. I think all that were present would agree with me.
Diane and Keith