Derek Galloway’s Bunters Imperials - Jazz on a Sunday

Reporter: Tony Sheldon
Date online: 18 March 2010

Derek Galloway’s Bunters Imperials breezed into town for a cornucopia of Jazz entertainment with Galloway’s vocals very much to the fore. A last minute ‘team change’ brought in the excellent clarinet and alto sax man, Brian Legan to join Malcolm Hogarth on keyboards, John Muskett on double bass, Brian Woods on drums, and of course trombonist Galloway.

Into the first set with “Four Leaf Clover” with Galloway in good voice and going on to regale the tales of “I Want a Little Girl”, “Beer Barrel Polka” and “Dinah”, with “Old Rockin’ Chair” testing Muskett’s vocal chords with alto sax and keyboards moving the tune along.

“Jive at Five” brought the set to a close with boogie keyboards, alto sax, Wood’s drumming and Galloway’s trombone and vocal in high octave.

A duo for clarinet and trombone built the tempo for “Sweet Georgia Brown” with an interlude for double bass, and the voice of Galloway who also took lead vocal in “Bye, Bye Blackbird”.

“Trouble in Mind” gave Legan the opportunity for a solo clarinet and vocal backed by muted trombone, and switching to alto sax, he powered his way through “Marie” with keyboards, bass and drums.

A nice arrangement of “Sugar” for clarinet and gentle trombone with the rhythm boys in close harmony gave way to “China Boy” with clarinet lead and keyboards magic from Hogarth.

The controversial New Orleans number “Jack I’m Mellow” brought up the interval sung by Galloway with clarinet and driving keyboards and rhythm.

Hogarth’s keyboards set the gig back in motion with a tempo changing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” leading to Legan’s “Clarinet Marmalade”.

“Ain’t I Blue” had gentle clarinet and keyboards backing Galloway’s smooth vocal and a driving “When You’re Smiling” had double smiles as Castleton’s ‘little bird’ brought her artistic steps to the dancefloor.

Legan’s clarinet crafted “The Old Rugged Cross” and also took centre stage directing “Over the Waves” with Muskett’s double bass.

Galloway’s vocal and trombone led a rousing “Bourbon Street Parade” before quietly finishing the evening’s entertainment with “Just a Little While to Stay Here”.