Peter Frank Dixieland All Stars - Jazz on a Sunday

Photo: Valerie Bracken

Peter Frank Dixieland All Stars - Jazz on a Sunday

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The return of Peter Frank’s Dixieland All Stars featured Dave Kendall on trumpet in the absence of Ian Royle, and after a delayed start due to a communication ‘mix-up’, the band slowly built up to speed as the first set progressed.

Vocals are spread around with all the musicians being band leaders in their own right and on occasions the now non politically correct remark of “Chiefs and Indians” was heard amongst the murmurs.

A vocal from trombonist Dave Morrell of “China town” started the ‘gig’ rolling, following by banjo guitarist Chris Howse persuading us that “My Baby Just Cares for Me.”

The Kenny Ball hit “Samantha” introduced the voice of Kendall and screetch style trumpet with the full support of Morrell and Kid Boyd’s clarinet.

Memories of Eddie Calvert were brought back as Boyd’s solo sax presented “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” with a rhythmic bossanova beat giving the drums of Mike Haggard an interesting airing.

“Too Busy” sung by Howse has driving sax and power trumpet directing the melody. “All of Me”, the vehicle for the guitar and vocal of Howse gave an opportunity for a double bass solo from bandleader Frank, and the set drew to a close with the front line firing away with “Bugle Boy Rag”.

A feature of the band is an interlude for Dave Morrell’s Lonnie Donegan re-incarnate skiffle set in which accompanying himself on banjo, he belted out the famous old numbers “Wreck of the Old 97”, “Sloop John B”, “Rail Road Bill” with Howse on guitar, and of course “Rock Island Line”.

Back to the Jazz, and it was Morrell (can’t keep a good man down) who with a trombone solo also vocalised with the popular number “Shine”.

Kendall’s vocal and trumpet pleaded “I Want a Little Girl” and the drum beat and banjo/vocal of Howse gave an unusual rendering of “Digga Digga Do” which when written in the Twenties gave cause for some raised eyebrows.

Trombone swing, trumpet drive and neat clarinet opened up for the customary drum solo in the interval number “China Boy” - Hoggard in formula one mode.

Into the last set with “Ain’t Misbehavin’” Howse on vocal and guitar with input from Frank’s double bass and Boyd’s clarinet

The favourite “Sweet Georgia Brown” with Howse’s guitar and vocal, and a trombone solo from Morrell who asked slow or fast and was greeted with quick, quick, but the paramedics were not needed.

The trumpet driven “Sleepy Time Down South” featured Morrell’s vocal but somehow the Armstrongesque feeling seemed a little distant.

Kid Boyd’s clarinet backed by the rhythm boys had everyone’s attention with his arrangement of “St Phillip Street Breakdown” and the band went blazing out with “High Society”.