Peter Frank Dixieland Allstars - Jazz on a Sunday

Photo: Valerie Bracken

Peter Frank Dixieland Allstars

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The Peter Frank Dixieland Allstars is a band made up of bandleaders and if you thought you would find six musicians pulling in different directions, you could not be more mistaken.

Having played as a unit for many a year, this was entertainment of the highest quality. Put together by double bassman Frank, the band is led on stage by powerful trumpeter Ian Royle who set the gig in motion with a rousing “Buddy’s Habit”.

Banjo/guitarist Chris Howse, one of the vocalists, proved he was just “Too Busy”, before a gentle arrangement for trumpet, guitar, ‘kid’ Boyd’s tenor sax and Dave Morrell’s trombone in “New Orleans” slowed the tempo but not for long as Mike Hoggard’s drum solo featured fiercely in the popular “Hindustan”.

“Hard Hearted Hannah” had Howse back in song driven along by the muted tones of Royle’s trumpet for the set to end with Boyd’s clarinet with trumpet and trombone showing due respect to Bechet’s “Dans la Rue D’Antibes”.

We had been promised surprises, and with the interval hardly begun the ‘skiffle section’ took to the stage with Dave (Lonnie Donegan) Morrell in full throttle with banjo, accompanied by the rhythm section to recall the days of “Grand Coulee Dam”, “Railroad Bill” and “Bring a Little Water Sylvie” – terrific.

The whole band then regrouped to dedicate “Just a Closer Walk with Thee” to Jazz on a Sunday regular Arthur Clegg who had sadly passed away a few days previously.

Into “Buena Sera” with Royle’s trumpet and vocal and onto the dancefloor gliding majestically in figure hugging magenta came ‘la petit oiseau’.

Turning to the swinging sounds of “Saratoga Swing”, tenor sax leading a duo for trombone and trumpet, with the integral rhythms of Howse’s raretin guitar, and it was Howse again with vocal and banjo in “My Baby Just Cares for Me” easily eclipsing Nina Simone’s version of long ago.

The muted trumpet of Royle blended with the rhythmic drumming of Hoggard in a plaintive version of Humphrey Lyttleton’s “Bad Penny Blues”, with the bossa nova beat of the rhythm section and Boyd’s solo tenor sax, “Cheeky Pink and Apple Blossom White” was given the full treatment and what better invitation for Castleton’s dancing apparition to float across the floor to the music.

Boyd’s clarinet led the band into the break with a powerful performance of “High Society”. The exuberant musicians kindly allowed the raffle to be drawn, before they were back on stage again.

“All of Me” featured the double bass talent of quiet man Peter Frank with Howse adding guitar and vocal with Hoggard’s integral drumming, and it was Chris (Louis Jourdan) Howse belting out “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby”. A well crafted “Clarinet Marmalade” gave way to Martin ‘kid’ Boyd’s gentle arrangement of Bechet’s “Petit Fleur” with clarinet and French vocal – oui oui!

Royle’s powerful trumpet and vocal “Nagasaki” with driving trombone and tenor sax had us all ‘wicky wacky wu’ and it was Royle again directing the favourite “Basin Street Blues” for the band to play out with the improvise inviting “Sing, Sing, Sing” - searing trumpet, clarinet trepidation, lightening drumming and double duo with the bass and stick drumming on bass strings – absolutely breathtaking – run me a cold shower!