Tame Valley Stompers

Quiet man leader of the Tame Valley Stompers, drummer Norman Pennington brought his merry men back to “Jazz on a Sunday”, for another evening of pure entertainment. Eccentric trombonist Terry Brunt, when not creating mayhem by using his instrument as a ‘weapon’, can certainly play ‘that thing’. Whilst his fellow front liners, trumpeters Roger Wimpenny and reedsman par excellence, Paul Broomhead try to bring some sanity to the musical presentation!

Piano virtuoso Noel Broadgate and bass guitarist Pete Smith both partake in a selection of vocals along with the front line musicians. This band is definitely one of the “tops” and I could easily wax lyrical over most of the numbers, as so many were real gems!

Pete “The Feet” Smith vocalised with “Goody Goody” accompanied by the bouncing Broom on tenor “Everywhere You Go the Sunshine Follows You”, with ‘interruptions’, and a superb bluesy rock “I’m Going to Kansas City”, with Broomhead’s driving alto sax, Brunt’s blasting trombone and Broadgate’s piercing organ sounds coming from the keyboard.

Gershwin’s “Summertime” was highlighted by Broadgate’s powerful authoritative piano with Broomhead’s vocal and soprano sax and the neat vocal interpretations of Broadgate shone through in “A Way With Women” and “Is You Is or Is You Ain’t My Baby” with piano, Smith’s string play and Pennington’s rhythmic drumming.

Wimpenny accompanied his own vocal in “When We Danced at the Mardi Gras”, and led the way with “Isle Of Capri”, with a lively piano and bass guitar solo, a popular rendition of “You Meet the Nicest People in Your Dreams”, and a great arrangement of “Black and Blue”, with vocal and solo altos and rhythmic interplay.

Broomhead can make his instruments talk with clarity of notes with either clarinets or saxes. We heard a dreamy vocal and soprano sax presentation of “Georgia on My Mind”, and gentle to swinging clarinet in “Over the Waves”, backed by Broadgate’s boogie piano! The Broom in full bloom!

When trombonist Brunt takes the mike anything can happen! A slow deep intro heralded his vocal of “I Get the Blues When it Rains”. A muted trombone self accompanied his vocal cords in “When You’re Smiling”, with Broadgate’s soft piano touches! Here we saw some ‘serious slow sliding’!

Brunt’s version of “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” had him ‘sliding all over the world’, with a neat interlude of piano, bass guitar and drums, and a harmonious vocal of Brunt, Wimpenny and Broomhead – eat your heart out Beverley Sisters!

Then to finish the evening a gentle outro with muited trumpet, soft clarinet and Brunt’s vocal and gospelling trombone leading the way home with “Just a Closer Walk With Thee”. Hallelujah brothers and sisters!

The Tame Valley Stompers
The Broadfield Hotel
Sunday 18 February 2007