Jazz on Sunday - The Chicago Teddy Bears Society Jazz Band

Ray Owens, The Chicago Teddy Bears Society Jazz Band

On Sunday 12 April, Jazz On A Sunday welcomed The Chicago Teddy Bears Society Jazz Band back to Castleton and to The Newtown National Club.

Under the leadership of drummer Brian Singleton, with Jim Lucas on trumpet, John Hallam on reeds, Andrew Mackenzie on trombone, Tony Ormesher on banjo and guitar and Ray Owens on bass(es) of the string and brass persuasions, The Teds, as always, hit the ground running.

A frantic opening burst comprised tried and tested standards 'At The Jazz Band Ball', 'Muskrat Ramble' and 'That’s A Plenty', an Ormesher/Hallam collaboration 'China Boy' that was only marginally less so and whilst briefly tempered courtesy of 'Creole Love Call' it was soon full steam ahead again - 'Strutting With Some Barbecue' - and Owens at the microphone for 'Up A Lazy River' then to end the set, with him this time on the brass bass, 'Shine'.

A somewhat less frantic but truncated set two opened with the now semi-obligatory audience singalong and 'It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie', choirmaster Owens clambered aboard the brass bass for 'South', there was a foray into big band territory with 'Christopher Columbus' then Mackenzie took the vocal suppored by Hallam on tenor and Ormesher on guitar for 'Don’t Get Around Much Anymore' and the set ended with the increasingly frequently heard 'Bei Mir Bist Du Schein'.

The final set found Andrew at the mike again for 'Chinatown My Chinatown', trumpeter Lucas led the ensemble in 'Jazz Me Blues', joining Hallam for a decidely up tempo 'Mood Indigo' and nineteen twenties number 'That Da Da Strain' before, to loud applause, leader Singleton brought us novelty number 'Dapper Dan'.

The ovation of the evening though was accorded to Hallam for 'High Society', then came the Ormesher-Hallam duo again with 'Sweet Georgia Brown' and to finish 'Swing Low Sweet Chariot'.