The Tame Valley Stompers - Jazz on a Sunday

Like the ‘hidden gem’ church in downtown Manchester, the Tame Valley Stompers are our local Jazz gem which the rest of the world have yet to enjoy. They are always popular and always cohesive with musicians bursting with talent ready to entertain until the final note.

Organised by quiet drummer Norman Pennington (is there a quiet drummer?) and led from the front by trombonist Terry Brunt – the original Bruntasaurus – it was music and laughter all the way.

Cornetist Roger Wimpenny set the gig in motion with his vocal “When We Danced at the Mardi Gras” followed by interplay of Noel Broadgate’s piano and Pennington’s drums and a Pete Smith bass guitar solo in a neat arrangement of “Savoy Blues”.

“Goody Goody” found Smith in good voice with Brunt’s trombone powering the melody. Reedsman Paul Broomhead was given the floor for a solo of “China Boy” displaying his talents on soprano sax, and then joined Wimpenny with his clarinet, to play the chimes in favourite number “Chimes Blues”.

Front line fusion and a duo vocal finish by Brunt and Smith gave a new slant to “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, leading to Wimpenny’s split personality singing both parts in Armstong’s tasty number “That’s When I’ll Come Back to You” with trombone tailgating like Lewis Hamilton.

“Someday You’ll Be Sorry” found Smith’s tonsils in tune, and a long first set concluded with Broomhead leading his disciples in “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”.

Back to the stage with Broadgate’s classic piano leading “Climax Rag” and a plaintive cornet and vocal from Wimpenny complemented by muted trombone in the melancholy “Black and Blue”.

In complete contrast, Broomhead’s clarinet solo of “St Philip Street Breakdown” with such perfection had the audience in raptures. “Everybody Loves My Baby” had Smith’s vocal and Broadgate’s piano in full flow with a short second set ending in Brunt leading the front line around the hall with “Bugle Boy March”.

A medley by Broadgate started the final set with the rhythm boys backing the cornet and vocal of Wimpenny in “I Can’t Get Started” – call out the AA!

Smith’s bass guitar solo in the roll and roll “Joe Avery’s Piece” faded away for the dramatic performance of Brunt’s “St James Infirmary Blues”.

“You Meet the Nicest People in Your Dreams”, made famous by the late Tommy Burton was given the sensitive treatment by Wimpenny, and a request for “Tiger Rag” had the tailgating trombone ‘Tiger’ chasing Broadgate’s ragtime piano.

It was time for “Goin’ Home” as the front three vocals led out the band. There is nothing tame about the Tame Valley Stompers.