We really did have a super evening with GEORGE ‘KID’ TIDIMAN’S ALL STARS! They were here on Friday, 22nd July 2016 at our FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB. GEORGE (our ‘Kid’) had planned to have brilliant trumpeter, DENNY ILETT with him, but Denny had an unexpected prior family engagement. However, we had KEN SIMMS take his place and what a treat – as we hadn’t seen him here for several years. Joining them, were superb clarinettist, TIM HUSKISSON. I said last time they were here, what a front line! Well it still was with Ken. The ‘engine boys’ were banjoist ‘SOUTHEND BOB’ ALLBUT (the man with the ‘voice’), plus double bassist, JOHN SIRETT and that drumming man, BILL FINCH. Unfortunately Mike Witt had problems with his photos, but came up with this wonderful one of George.
How about this photo of our beaming ‘Kid’, George Tidiman on trombone, seen here with Ken Simms on trumpet. Taken at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) on 22nd July 2016 with his own band ;George ‘Kid’ Tidiman’s All Stars. Photo by Mike Witt.
George sang ‘Satchmo’ style just brilliantly, the the first tune I’ll mention, being ‘Basin Street Blues’. What a wonderful ‘full on’ effort made by everyone. Well, it is a cracking number, don’t you think? Then an equally brilliant one followed, ‘Hello Central, Give Me Dr Jazz’. Bob sang this time and you know I just love the deep classic sounds coming out of his vocal cords. I noted George’s solo was superb, with him holding a note for a long time and not just once either! They then announced the next number as being ‘Mabel’s Dream’. I recall Ken saying ‘We’re going to do the nightmare version’ – ha. Then ‘Chattanooga Stomp’? I must have been dancing to it, because I hadn’t written any notes and I do recall I enjoyed it. It was an extremely hot evening and the musicians had not let up! So it was lovely they chose to play this following one, being ‘Tishomingo Blues’, everyone got up to dance (with it being a nice slow number for everyone to be able to dance, without feeling they might collapse (phew). Then ‘Cake Walkin’ Babies’ was another number. There were some lovely solos by everyone. Bob’s next rendition was of ‘The Bird With the Funny Names’, which he did for his solo performance (I think this is ‘The 57th Snowflake’, being the Brownies’ camp song). What a funny man Bob is – and clever too. How does he remember all the words! What’s more, how does he find all these obscure numbers to play? Then what about the next, ‘I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead, You Rascal You’? It was another one that George sang ‘Louis’ style and can he do it wonderfully – and with everyone playing fabulous solos again. We had a gorgeous bit of playing from both Ken and Tim with ‘Yama Yama Blues’ and I think it could possibly be the first time this number has been played here (although Mike Barry’s Uptown Gang played ‘The Yama, Yama Man’ for us back on 28 November 2014 – different song – ha) For a hot night, they ‘went out’ on a hot number ‘Panama (Rag)’. How do these musicians do it? Oh what an exciting ending. So many smiles from everyone leaving the club … and being on a high myself, I didn’t get to sleep till 4:00 in the morning hmmmmmm!
Your hosts
Diane and Keith
‘Basin Street Blues’ – Spencer Williams (1926)
‘Cake Walkin’ Babies’ – (m) Chris Smith & Clarence Williams, (l) Henry Troy (1925)
‘Chattanooga Stomp’ – Alphonse Picou & Joe ‘King’ Oliver (1923)
‘Hello Central, Give Me Doctor Jazz’ – Joe ’King’ Oliver & Walter Melrose (1926)
‘I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead You Rascal You’ – Lovin’ Sam Thaird (1929)
‘Mabel’s Dream’ – Ike Smith (1923)
‘Panama (Rag)’- Charles Seymour (1904)
‘The Bird With the Funny Names’ – The 57th Snowflake – The Brownies Song
‘Tishomingo Blues’ – Spencer Williams (1917)
‘Yama Yama Blues’ –Spencer Williams & Clarence Williams (no relation) (1919)
Your hosts
Diane and Keith