Reporter: Tony Sheldon
Date online: 11/06/2008

If you like New Orleans jazz then the visit of Taffs New Orleans Stompers to Castleton was the place to be. Here were superb musicians led by the Danish based Yorkshire drummer Taff Lloyd with Norman Thatcher and Peter Wright alternating on trumpet and bass - different!

A superb mix of stomps, blues, marches, spirituals & boogies produced an evening of pure magic. Highlights of the first set included Keith Box's clarinet on 'Algiers Strutt' and 'In The Sweet Bye & Bye' and trombonist Jeff Milner vocalising on 'Dallas Blues', 'I Can't Escape From You' and 'Salutation March'.

The second set brought some excellent arrangements of 'Give Me Dr Jazz', 'Taff's Boogie', 'Redwing' and Milner's muted trombone on 'Take My Hand & Lead Me On'. An enthusiastic audience warmed to an even better third session with such gems as 'Milenberg Joys', excellent drum work by Taff on 'Harbour Lights', 'Climax Rag', 'Panama' and Thatcher's trumpet solo and Milner's vocal with 'On A Coconut Island'. Sarah Thatcher on banjo completed the rhythm section of a fine outfit.

Jazz on Sunday
June 2002