Tony Davis – Jazz on a Sunday

Photo: Valerie Bracken

Tony Davis – Jazz on a Sunday

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Tony Davis, the whistling banjoist from the world famous folk group ‘The Spinners’ has long been a Jazz aficionado and has been leading Jazz bands in later years, and his musicians are all accomplished members of other well known ensembles.

Due to surgical improvements Davis accepts he is no longer able to perform ‘the hippy, hippy shake’, but in the absence of the swinging blue jeans, he is more than happy to bring his Jazzmen to entertain leading the boys with intros and vocals and very welcome he will always be on the Jazz Club circuit.

A professional to his fingertips he carefully plans his programme and the first set was based on the music of New Orleans, with the indisposition of octogenarian trumpeter Billy Edwards, the Blue Magnolia’s Les Harris stepped into the breach, and apart from the odd communication blip, played an integral part of the evening’s music.

“Way Down Yonder In New Orleans” the obvious starter sung by Davis then moved into the crescent city and “Basin Street Blues” with Andrew McKenzie’s trombone, the trumpet of Harris and a duo of Dave Lee on clarinet and Colin Smith’s tuba.

“Just a Closer Walk with Thee” was unusual without the lyrics, but the clarinet solo on the beautifully melodic “Louisiana Fairytale” was enhanced by the vocal of Davis, the keyboards of Malcolm Hogarth and the gentle percussion of John Blackman.

“Cake Walking Babies” gave the tonsils of Harris an airing, and a slow arrangement of “Tishamingo Blues” didn’t really bring to life this rousing number before the interval offering of the powerful “High Society”.

The second set was based on the Dixieland music around Chicago, firing off with “At the Jazz Band Ball”.

Davis’ vocal accompanied the tango beat arrangement of “St Louis Blues”, the front line speeding up with “Royal Garden Blues”.

Hogarth’s solo boogie keyboards backed by the rhythm boys presented “Joyride” with Castleton’s ‘petite oiseaux’ joyriding across the floor. “If I could Be With You For One Hour Tonight” musically directed by Lee’s soprano sax, muted trumpet and McKenzie’s trombone complete with “Woolly Hat” also brought out the kazoo of Davis added to his vocal.

“Ain’t Misbehavin” with the trumpet and vocal of Harris also provided a trombone solo piece for McKenzie with his instrument back in “Fine Fettle”, before Beiderbecke mania brought up the break with “Jazz Me Blues”.

“Blue Skies” set off the third set mix, giving way to McKenzie’s party piece, a modern arrangement of “Pennies from Heaven” for trombone and vocal backed by the keyboards of Hogarth.

A piece meal arrangement of Ellington’s “Mood Indigo” failed to ignite, unlike the full power of the front line and Hogarth’s Honky-Tonk keyboards with dancer in tow in “Dark Town Strutter’s Ball”.

A nice arrangement of “Exactly Like You” with vocal from Davis and Lee’s tenor sax contrasted with the twenties irreverent “Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gave To Me”.

“Tiger Rag” had the band flying out in style but a request for “Mama Don’t Allow” was duly granted to bring the evening to a close.