The Jazz Gentlemen - Jazz on a Sunday

The Jazz Gentlemen at Jazz on a Sunday

Another sticky night in Rochdale, the tropical capital of the north, and the jazz world were delighted to see Maurice Gavan back on the keyboards with The Jazz Gentlemen after heart surgery playing as good as ever!

Bass player Keith Allcock leads the band and jazzers will remember his daughter Edwina who used to be the vocalist but is now too unwell to develop her musical talents – everyone wishes her well.

As members of the band had just returned from France, it was no surprise that Bechet’s “Dans La Rue D’Antibes” was included in the first set led by Terry Porter’s soprano sax and Terry Brunt’s trombone.

“Muskrat Ramble” set the gig in motion and Kid Ory’s “Sultry Serenade” was given the Brunt trombone treatment, also vocalising “St Louis Blues with alto sax and keyboards driving music!

Derek Skepper’s trumpet, Allcock’s bass solo and Porter’s clarinet powered along “Gee Baby Aint ‘I Good to You” whilst Porter’s alto sax was given the floor for the mainstream “Lester Leaps In” with keyboards, double bass and Dick Nancarrow on drums.

“Sleepy Time Gal” a nice duo for trumpet and keyboards led to the interval number; a very different arrangement of “Canal Street Blues”.

A short second set had a nice mix. Skepper’s trumpet and vocal “Breezing Along with the Breeze” and Brunt singing “I Get the Blues when it Rains” - what else for a Man City fan!

“Shimmy Showabble” had plenty of trumpet and bluesy trombone, Brunt introduced a plaintive “Big House Blues” with tragedy trainspotting and the Duke of Devonshire - that’s Terry! Skepper led the band and the crowd into the break with “Alexander’s Rag Time Band”.

Into the final set with “Nobody’s Sweetheart Now”, Skeppers vocal with trombone and piano, mellow clarinet, rich trumpets and smooth keyboards brought nice tones to “Keeping out of Mischief Now”!

The gentle clarinet solo of Porter with Gavans vibes sound blended for “Memories of You”, whilst Brunt/Skepper led “The Preacher” trombone sliding out of control, driving keyboards and integral drumming!

Brunt’s vocal and trombone produced his own requested version of “St James Infirmary Blues”, “Take the A Train” included some neat drum skirmishes as Porters switched alto with the clarinet.

Skeppers vocal of the lugubriously titled “I Aint Goin’ to Give you None of my Jelly Roll” fuelled by sax, trombone and keyboards with drums, gave way to the final offering “Down By The Riverside” with neat Clarinet, boogie keyboards and crazy trombone! Good jazzing!