Hey, it was the GOLDEN EAGLE JAZZ BAND who turned up to play on Friday, 30th October 2015 at FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB. Band leader KEVIN SCOTT (tenor banjo) had brought with him MIKE SCROXTON on trumpet, ALAN CRESSWELL on clarinet, ROY STOKES on trombone & vocals, MIKE BROAD on double bass and PETE JACKMAN on drums. Before I begin telling you about all the fun making of this evening, I must stop for a while and tell you, the band played their second tune, ‘In The Sweet Bye and Bye’, especially for a lovely trombonist. It was such a shock to hear that on 17th October 2015, Russell Bennett had sadly died. He was an especially talented musician, as is his family, whom we all have such sympathy and feeling for – including his very personal friends. In his terribly short life, Russell gave so much enjoyment to so many, with his talent and tremendous sense of humour. Russell (aged just 43yrs) was snatched from this world, but grabbed into the next place we go to (I’m sure with much glee) to join that huge band of all ages in the sky. ‘You won’t need an audition Russell, you left your ‘stamp; here for all to see’. I know he would love me to follow on with what we got up to tonight– he was so full of fun. Hey Russell, I think Kevin chose ‘In The Sweet Bye and Bye’ because could the lyricist perhaps have been a distant relative?
Last week, when telling you of this week, I said we’ll have Trad’ jazz at its best, because it is sure to include lots of smiling faces on people having fun. It was just that, with all the fun of Halloween fancy dress. I’m sure the ‘Golden’ boys won’t mind me putting us girls’ pictures here first – you better not, we might put a hex on you – ha.
Don’t we have beautiful Witches in this Coven! It’s actually Anita having fun in fancy dress at our Halloween Party on 30th October 2015. No wonder Golden Eagle Jazz Band came to entertain us here at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent). Photo by Mike Witt
Here’s one of our beautiful Witches in our Coven. It’s actually June having fun in fancy costume. No wonder Golden Eagle Jazz Band didn’t mind entertaining us at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) for our Halloween Party on 30th October 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.
This is me (Diane) Sorry I have spoilt the scene, but I did have to tell them who’s boss. Well, we did have some beautiful Witches at our fancy dress Halloween Party and I couldn’t let them get too big for their boots! Party was here at Farnborough Jazz Club on Friday 30th October 2015. Golden Eagle Jazz Band entertained us. Photo by Kevin Scott
Here’s a couple more beautiful Witches we had in our Coven, who are the Witches from Gillingham. Actually, it is Phil and Sandra in fancy dress enjoying the fun. No wonder Golden Eagle Jazz Band didn’t mind entertaining us at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) for our Halloween Party on 30th October 2015. Photo by Mike Witt.
To continue, I think these ‘Golden’ boys decided they had better keep the smiles on our faces, so they played extra nice, beginning with ‘Bourbon Street Parade’. Had Kevin played it to parade us up and down to perhaps even tempt us to ‘fly now’? We liked it – ha. As for ‘It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie’, would we ever, I mean. Their next tune was beautifully sung by Kevin, on behalf of Keith (who is bald), but for me (who is a bottle-fed brunette – well a young witch cannot be silver really, can she! What are you all laughing for?). The tune was ‘Silver Threads Among The Gold’ and joking apart, what a lovely song. Alan featured next and being so soft hearted, he played the next one for our cats, called ‘Wild Cat Blues’. The boys couldn’t get them off their laps, purring so much – the cats I mean. Mike (S) sang to us next and being under our spell, he sang to us ‘There’s Yes, Yes In Your Eyes’, don’t worry Mike, you’ll feel better soon – we are dreadful, aren’t we? That’s why they had to quickly sing the next one, to wrap our knuckles, or something – he he. The tune? ‘Up Jumped The Devil’! Kevin does find them, doesn’t he, I don’t think it has been played here before, well it wasn’t needed before, was it! As for the next tune, did they really think we could be ‘sweet’? – arhh. Well, I suppose playing it helped … ‘In The Sweet By and By’ – and the dance floor was absolutely packed. Then, a good 10 or 12 of us got up to enjoy our line-dance to ‘The Sheik Of Araby’. I suppose we thought we could lure back into the mood, well you men were all getting syrupy. I think our mood had slipped though, because we found ourselves singing at the top of our voices to ‘It’s A Long Way To Tipperary’, such comradery, aye? Being near the bewitching hour, we forgot and joined in with the band, singing their last song, ‘Smiles’. What a wonderful evening and thanks to everyone for making it so much fun, especially Kevin & the boys, for choosing such fun numbers.
It’s Halloween Party time. The guys are trying so hard to avoid our gaze. (LtoR) Roy Stokes (trombone), Pete Jackman (drums), Mike Scroxton (trumpet), Alan Cresswell (clarinet), Mike Broad (d.bass), & Kevin Scott (banjo) who are the Golden Eagle Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club on 30th October 2016. Photo taken by Mike Witt.
It’s still Halloween Party time and the guys are still trying so hard to avoid our gaze. (LtoR) Roy Stokes (trombone), Pete Jackman (drums), Mike Scroxton (trumpet), Mike Broad (d.bass), Alan Cresswell (clarinet) & Kevin Scott (banjo) who are the Golden Eagle Jazz Band at Farnborough Jazz Club on 30th October 2016. (LtoR) Photo taken by Mike Witt.
It’s Halloween at Farnborough Jazz Club. We are nearing the bewitching hour and Golden Eagle Jazz Band can resist us no longer, we have them under our spell! he he, Photo taken by Mike Witt.
And that’s Jazz – cheers from
Witchy poo Diane – and Keith too!
‘Bourbon Street Parade’ – Paul Barbarin (c. 1953)
‘In The Sweet Bye and Bye’ – (m) Joseph P. Webster, (l) Sanford Filmore Bennet (1868) recorded by Louis
‘It’s A Long Way to Tipperary’ – (m/l) Henry James ‘Harry’ Williams, (l) Jack Judge (1912)
‘It’s A Sin to Tell a Lie’ – Billy Mayhew (1936
‘Silver Threads Among The Gold’ – Hart Pease Danks, (l) Ebon Eugene Rexford (1873)
‘Smiles’ – (m) Lee S. Roberts, (l) J. Will Callahan (1917)
‘The Sheik of Araby’ – (m) Ted Snyder, (l) Harry B. Smith & Francis Wheeler (1921)
‘There’s Yes! Yes! In your Eyes’ – (m) Joseph H. Santly, (l) Cliff Friend (1924)
‘Up Jumped The Devil’
‘Wild Cat Blues’ – Clarence Williams & Thomas ‘Fats’ Waller (1923)
Please Note: See above Page about internationally famed saxophonist & vocalist, Jonny Boston, with a wonderful array of stars, who will be on tour here in England next year – March 2016 (to include us on 4th) .