Pendle Jazzmen

Making a first visit to Jazz on Sunday, The Pendle Jazzmen, led by drummer Colin Mason presented a programme of top jazz with many numbers played with re-arrangements and interpretations of self expression, which gave new life to old tunes.


Guesting on Cornet, Jim Heap provided a powerful force between the thoughtful reeds playing of David Ellis and the ebullience of extrovert trombonist Eddie Taylor.

Many numbers found the front line in cameo solo mode with vocals shared. Heap sung popular favourites "Is it true what they say about Dixie?", "Please don’t talk about me when I'm gone", "Button up your overcoat" and "Basin Street Blues," as well as "Running Wild" with Ellis’ sax and Mason’s drumming.

The nimble fingers of bass player Frank Law also accompanied his vocals on "Blue turning grey" a nice slow ballad with Alto Sax and "I can't give you anything but love."

The self arranging trombone of Taylor attacked "Rosetta" backed by the rhythm section and his voice was brought to the fore on "It had to be you" and "My blue heaven" with David Knight's banjo providing strong support.

Heap's cornet led the way with "Strutting at some barbecue" and "Jazz band ball" and Ellis' softly driven Clarinet with lazy guitar, bass and symbols caught the right mood for "Summertime."

New arrangements are fine but not with "Mood Indigo" and the next time they should stick to Duke Ellington’s original nuances. "I'm confessin'" brought a free playing style from Trombone, Sax and Cornet, and a rousing finale of "Royal garden blues" left the audience asking for more.

The Pendle Jazzmen
Sunday 21 August 2005