Magnificent entertainment - Jazz on a Sunday

Photo: Valerie Bracken

Jazz Gentlemen - Jazz on a Sunday

Three gigs during December ended a year in which Jazz on a Sunday celebrated its fifth Christmas back at Castleton.

Midlands visitors Chris Pearce’s Frenchmen Street Jazz Band set the month in motion on the 2 December. Reedsman Pearce leads a band which was formed when the long established ‘Antique Six’ decided to call it a day, and includes two other band leaders, Richard Leach on trombone and Graham Smith on drums.

In a programme based on a selection of popular numbers, the vocals were kept to a minimum. Leach’s trombone featured in solos – “Dr Jazz” and “Sweet Sue” whilst banjo/guitarist Phil Probert produced a nice arrangement of “Don’t Blame Me” backed up by Tony Sharp on double bass and Smith on drums.

Deputising on trumpet, Dave Leithead introduced a swinging interpretation of “Pennies from Heaven” also adding the vocal to the song and a programme of twenty-three numbers provided an enjoyable balance of Jazz excitement.

New Orleans Heat, one of the busiest bands on the circuit travelled from near and far, for their eagerly awaited annual visit on the 16 December.

Led by pianist Barry Grummett, apart from regularly travelling the length and breadth of the UK, the band makes many tours of Holland and Sweden and their popularity has built up an international fan base with their monthly newsletter “Bugle Boy”.

All fine musicians, the powerful cornet of Gwyn Lewis often takes centre stage with his vocals ranging from the spiritual “Lily of the Valley” through the bluesy “Trouble in Mind” to the humorous “Sheik of Araby” and “Coconut Island”.

Now back in harness after a kidney transplant reedsman John Scantlebury was in tip top shape vocalising with “Carolina Moon” backed up by a tight rhythm section led by Grummett with Tony Peatman on banjo, Harry Slater on double bass and Colin Bushell on drums.

A gentle clarinet rendition of “An Evening Prayer” was followed by sax with vocals on “It’s a Sin to tell a Lie” to bring the second set to a close with a bang!

Trombonist Dave Vickers deputising for the indisposed Mike Taylor fitted neatly into the band’s blend leading off “China Boy” with cornet, sax and Grummett’s boogie piano driving the rhythm but the Lewis’s vocals in varying styles on “Can’t escape from you”, “Jada”, “Magic in the Moonlight”, “Tipitipitin”, “Winter Wonderland” and a formula one attack in “Mary wore a Golden Chain” had the place buzzing as the evening just sped away.

The Christmas Party on the 23 December brought the Jazz Gentlemen to Rochdale, suitably attired in Santa hats and led from the front by trombonist extraordinaire Terry Brunt, providing the entertainment to close 2012 at Jazz on a Sunday.

Amidst the poppers and mince pies, a variety of tunes hit the earwaves with reedsman Barry Aldous vocalising with “Aint Misbehavin’” and “Nobody loves you when you’re down and out” and the highlight of the first set was the arrangement of Duke Ellington’s “Creole love call” with Derek Shepper’s trumpet and Aldous’ clarinet leading the tune whilst the distant trombone of Brunt created a stereo effect, whilst the rhythm section of Maurice Gavan on piano, Keith Allcock on double bass and Chris Pendlebury on drums paved the way for the final ‘wah-wah’ trombone of Brunt – exceptional!

A swinging arrangement of “Take the ‘A’ Train” featured Pendlebury’s drumming and “The Preacher” had Brunt and Skepper in tangent whilst the evening introduced Val Bracken singing “Pennies from Heaven” and “Old Woman Blues”.

The final set got moving into the holiday mode with “Santa Claus is coming to town” and “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer”. Brunt vocalised with “St Louis Blues” and followed with a superb gentle trombone with Allcock’s double bass in Ellington’s “Mood Indigo”, and the year came to a close with “Bye Bye Blackbird”, Aldous in a full flow with sax and vocal, and a rousing finish in full throttle with “Shine”.

And so to 2013, if you have not been to Jazz on a Sunday, give it a try. You won’t be able to stay away, with our band of the year Maine Street Jazzmen here at 8.00pm at Mayfield Sports Centre on 20 January.

Top quality musicians have provided some magnificent entertainment during 2012, thoroughly enjoyed by the regulars but we could do with attracting another 20-25 people on a regular basis so that the bands can be paid what they really deserve.

Jazz on Sunday Programme