Lord Napier Hot Shots, 29th July 2016

We had a good turn-out for the LORD NAPIER HOT SHOTS’, who entertained us here at FARNBOROUGH JAZZ CLUB on Friday 29th July 2016.  The boys in the band  were band leader MIKE JACKSON on trumpet &vocals, MIKE DUCKWORTH on trombone, PAT GLOVER on reeds &vocals, JOHN STUART on banjo & guitar, MICK SCRIVEN on double bass, bass sax &vocals, plus BILL TRAXLER on drums.

Lord Napier Hotshots play at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) on Friday, 29th July 2016. (LtoR) Mick Scrivens (bass sax), Pat Glover (clarinet), John Stewart ( banjo), Mike Jackson (trumpet), Mike Duckworth (trombone&fab socks) and Bill Traxler (drums). Photo by Mike Witt.

Lord Napier Hotshots play at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) on Friday, 29th July 2016. (LtoR) Mick Scrivens (bass sax), Pat Glover (clarinet), John Stuart ( banjo), Mike Jackson (trumpet), Mike Duckworth (trombone&fab socks) and Bill Traxler (drums). Photo by Mike Witt.

Last week, I said these guys have played together for so many years, obviously showing they have a feel for their music – good old traditional jazz to dance and drink to.  So you obviously all agreed with me and some of you even turned up before we had set up – lovely enthusiasm thanks.  Here’s how the evening went.  They began with a happy little number called ‘All I Do Is Dream Of You’.  I remember Gene Kelly singing this one and was surprised to read that the film negatives of ‘Singing in the Rain’ were destroyed in a studio fire in 1978, although prints of the film survived, thank goodness, it is one of my all-time favourites.  I missed making notes for the next few numbers, with people arriving – even wrote ‘Chris’ sang a song (but missed writing the name of the song) and they didn’t have a Chris in the band –ha (they’re coming to take me away soon!) Oh yes Chris was in the audience!!!!

Lord Napier Hotshots play at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) on Friday, 29th July 2016. (LtoR) Pat Glover (clarinet), Mick Scrivens (bass sax. (trumpeter Mike Jackson sings and John Stewart banjo), Mike Duckworth (trombone) and Bill Traxler's drums.. Photo by Mike Witt.

Lord Napier Hotshots play at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent) on Friday, 29th July 2016. (LtoR) Pat Glover (clarinet), Mick Scrivens (bass sax. Mike Jackson (trumpet), John Stuart (banjo), Mike Duckworth (trombone) and Bill Traxler’s drums.. Photo by Mike Witt.

Anyway, I did write Mike (J) sang ‘I’m Sorry I Made You Cry’, a tune that hasn’t been played here before and he sang it beautifully.  Then came a good old trad’ number ‘Royal Garden Blues’ and on came the dancers.  Not only did we enjoy it, but you could hear they enjoyed playing it too.  We were back on the dance floor with our ‘Farnborough Charleston Line-dancers’ to the ‘Charleston’ and do we have fun – not sure if anyone finds us in their way – view-wise, ha!

Mike Duckworth plays muted trombone accompanied by Bill Traxler on drums. Seen here playing with Lord Napier Hotshots at Farnborough Jazz Club on 29th July 2016. Photo by Mike Witt.

Mike Duckworth plays muted trombone accompanied by Bill Traxler on drums. Seen here playing with Lord Napier Hotshots at Farnborough Jazz Club on 29th July 2016. Photo by Mike Witt.

Mick Scriven plays bass sax (big bertha as I call it) with John Stewart on banjo, seen here at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent). With Lord Napier Hotshots on Friday 29th July 2016. Photo by Mike Witt

Mick Scriven plays bass sax (big bertha as I call it) with John Stewart on banjo, seen here at Farnborough Jazz Club (Kent). With Lord Napier Hotshots on Friday 29th July 2016. Photo by Mike Witt

Mick Scriven plays his Ned Steinberger electric upright 5 string bass, seen here at Farnborough Jazz Club, playing with Lord Napier Hotshots - 29th July 2016. Photo by Mike Witt.

Mick Scriven plays his Ned Steinberger electric upright 5 string bass, seen here at Farnborough Jazz Club, playing with Lord Napier Hotshots – 29th July 2016. Photo by Mike Witt.

I jotted down that Mick played big bertha (bass sax) – fabulous.  I gave my usual three ticks to the next number ‘Lou-i-Easy-An-I-A’, which meant they all did a lovely job with playing.  It is another happy jaunty number, so again plenty of dancing.  The next tune, ‘Hello Central, Give Me Dr Jazz’, must have had the dancers up too, including me because I didn’t write anything, except Mick sang and I recall he also has a great jazz voice!  ‘Let Me Call You Sweetheart’ was another tune with three ticks, but I think I was enjoying myself, I forgot to write anything (Cinzano time, I think – ha).  Then came ‘Somebody Loves Me’ and was sung by Pat who, as I have said before, has a very romantic voice and I had put my three ticks.  Lovely, because again he sang the last number, being that Fat’s Waller’s number ‘You Meet The Nicest People In Your Dreams’.  Oh, yes, congratulations Pam and Pat, on becoming great-grandparents again by two separate daughter-in-laws.  One born lunchtime Wednesday, the other early Thursday morning! That makes eight great-grand and nineteen grandchildren altogether, wow (congrats too, to Christine, who also had a great-grandchild).

Keep jazz ‘live’ by supporting us please.

Your hosts,

Diane and Keith

‘All I Do Is Dream of You’ – (m&l) Nacio Herb Brown (m), Arthur Freed (1934)
‘Charleston’- (m) James Price Johnson, (l) Cecil Mack (1923)
‘Hello Central, Give Me Doctor Jazz’ – Joe ’King’ Oliver & Walter Melrose (1926)
‘I’m Sorry I Made You Cry’ – N J. Clesi (1918)
‘Let Me Call You Sweetheart’ – (m) Leo Friedman, (l) Beth Slater Whitson (1910)
‘Lou-i-Easy-An-I-A – Joe Darensbourg (circa 1949)
‘Royal Garden Blues’ – Clarence Williams & Spencer Williams (1919) (not related
‘Somebody Loves Me’ – (m) George Gershwin, (l) Ballard MacDonald & Buddy DeSylva (1924)
‘You Meet the Nicest People in Your Dreams’ – (m) Al Hoffman & Al Goodhart, (l) Manny Kurtz (1939)