The Savannah Jazz Band

I have not seen the Savannah Jazz Band since their personnel changes but their visit to 'Jazz On A Sunday' sounded better than ever. Their three stalwarts John Meehan on the drums, the band leader, 'Sam' Ellis on trombone and the musical director and bassist Tony Pollitt were all at their usual best, with the front line now led by ex Smoky City trumpeter Bill Smith. Guesting on clarinet and saxophone was Frank Brooker and on banjo, aficionado Louis Lince.

A lively start with "East Coast Trot" set the scene for a balanced selection of numbers to follow. Brooker's vocal tunes produced "I Can't Escape from You", "Curse of an Aching Heart" and a duo with Smith in "Bourbon Street" with a neat Banjo interlude. Lince was given plenty of cameos being prominent in a rarely played "Aunt Hagar's Blues".

The trombone of quiet man Ellis blended nicely with the ebullient Smith whose vocals included "All the Girls Go Crazy", "It's only a Beautiful Picture" and the late Sandy Brown's "Nothing Blues" accompanying himself on driving harmonica with Brooker’s sax solo.

Brooker's clarinet skills shone through on "Papa Dip", "Perdido Street Blues", "Dippermouth Blues" and the much requested "St Philip Street Breakdown".

The bouncing bass of Pollitt came to the fore with "Redwing" and everyone contributed to a great tempo changing arrangement of "Climax Rag"!

Drummer Meehan played an integral part in "Black Cat On The Fence" and woke up all the hotel residents in the fast and the furious "Get Out of Here and Go On Home" if that was not enough they played out with "Going Home" – but fellas - we knew - ok!

The Savannah Jazz Band
Sunday 11 December 2005