PHOENIX DIXIELAND JAZZ BAND were on top form at Farnborough Jazz Club on Friday 19th August 2016. They’re a wonderful 7-pce band who certainly know how to make an evening really sparkle. Although we love and missed Paul Higgs on trumpet, it was a fantastic surprise to have MIKE BARRY take over on trumpet. He seemed to play better than ever, perhaps being relaxed, not having to run his own bands (with an ‘s’). So here are the super musicians we had playing here, giving us a brilliant evening. As already mentioned, we had MIKE BARRY on trumpet, plus CHARLES SHERWOOD on clarinet, BILL TODD on trombone, ALAN CLARKE on drums, DAVE BARNES on piano, ROGER CURPHEY on double bass and JOHN STUART on banjo & guitar. I know I always say it, but again, what a wonderful evening of fun jazz.
‘At The Jazz Band Ball’ was their starter for ten. Everyone taking brilliant solos – certainly a great number to greet people arriving with. Two people who had arrived out of the blue, were the lovely dancing couple, Linda and John, who travel, I believer from Hastings to get to us, got up to the very next number, ‘Dr Jazz’, what a great beginning, with the band giving wonderful solos everywhere again.
My next choice to relate to you was their lovely version of ‘Chinatown, My Chinatown’, with their fantastic Chinese intimations (the only thing missing for me was ‘Ying tong, Ying tong’ etc,) – great drum solo from Alan. Then Bill sang ‘Rockin’ Chair’. I do love that Hoagy Carmichael song.
Then it was Dave’s turn to sing and he chose to do ‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love Baby’, with the ‘front line’ singing ‘Shuby Duby’, ha. Wow did they boom out the next number brilliantly too – ‘That’s A Plenty’. Where do they get their energies from?
The tune that followed was a feature one for Charles, who excelled himself with ‘Petite Fleur’. He has mastered his clarinet to a beautiful level, so a joy to listen to. The next number that I love, ‘Someday, You’ll Be Sorry’ is one that Keith and I sing to one-another (a lot) in unison (for obvious reasons, so have to mention it) ha. Plus their last one was ‘Bourbon Street Parade’, Oh yeah. Wonderful! Another lovely dancing great. So if you missed the evening … and many of you did, due to your holidays (yuk – all coming back rusty looking), this is what you missed … Mike was great with these guys, being so relaxed and obviously old muckers too. Anyway, hopefully we will see you all back soon.
Diane and Keith