Jazz on a Sunday: Frank Brooker's Happy Chappies

The icing on Jazz on Sunday’s Christmas cake for 2015 came in the form of Yorkshire-based band Frank Brooker’s Happy Chappies.

Led by Frank on clarinet and tenor supported by Greg Wadman (cornet), Jim Wright (banjo and guitar), Phil Kampen (bass) and Rod McNamara (drums) and switching seemingly effortlessly between traditional jazz and party band modes, garnished here with a touch of seasonal sentiment and topped off with some solid rock, they delighted an appreciable and appreciative audience (allegedly including Santa himself) to the tune of some thirty numbers.

Among the highlights at this latest of JOAS' fortnightly offerings at Castleton's New Town National Club were established jazz classics like 'Muskrat Ramble', 'Singing The Blues' and 'The Saints'. Also heard were some Ellington ('Satin Doll'), some Big Band numbers ('Jumping At The Woodside'), some Country & Western ('Cold Cold Heart'), some Calypso ('Jamaica Farewell'), a slew of Christmas songs (somehow including Elvis' 'Blue Christmas'), Kwela and Limbo rhythms, references to 40s close harmony group The Ink Spots, to British 'Trad' with Acker Bilk's 'Creole Jazz' as well as tips of the hat to Rochdale's own Gracie ('Isle Of Capri') and to The Rolling Stones ('Route 66').