Jazz on a Sunday review of 2011

Photo: Valerie Bracken

Jazz on a Sunday

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The Jazz on -Sunday sessions at the Mayfield Rugby League Club in Castleton have gone from strength to strength with a fine selection of bands entertaining the fans during 2011.

January saw the visit of popular local bands “Chicago Teddy Bears Society Jazz Band”, the “Howard Allen Dixielanders” and a first time visit from the evergreen Essex “Frog Island Jazz Band” playing the original slow strains of New Orleans led by their long time sousaphonist Rob Fullalove.

Into February and a Yorkshire month with first timers Dave Kendall’s “White Eagles Jazz Band” followed by the ever popular “Savannah Jazz Band” led by drummer John Meehan with the original trombonist Brian ‘Sam’ Ellis and the power of Bill Smith’s cornet!.

The March winds brought in the eccentricity of Terry Brunt’s trombone with the highly entertaining “Tame Valley Stompers”, with great contrast with the voice of Judy Eames and the Kaminsky connection” and the month ended with the young band chosen as ‘band of the year’, “The Cheshire Cats” led by the teenage drummer Jack Cottrill and including the wizard of the keyboard Tom Kinsaid and reeds player extraordinaire Amy Roberts. Amy is a degree student at the Northern College of Music who has since joined the Chris Barber Big Band.

April showers ‘rained’ in Merseyside’s “Jazz Gentlemen,” and a special visit from international reedsman Sammy Rimington who guested with the “Tuxedo Jazz Band” and certainly drew the crowds.

Humorous newcomers “Firehose One Jazzmen” brought May in with a bang and an annual favourite in Devon’s “John Shillito’s Select Six” led by trumpeter Shillito, and sought after reedsman John Wurr. The month finished with Merseyside and the “Wirr Orleans Jazz Band” and young trumpeter Phil Lucas.

June at last brought north the exciting “Sussex Jazz Kings” led by trumpeter Dave Stradwick, and a regular favourite, Tony Smith’s “Yorkshire Stompers” featuring reedsman Frank Brooker and the maestro of the double bass Annie Hawkins.

Into July and Brian Carrick’s “Algiers Stompers” presented the sounds of the crescent city with local favourite ”Harley Hot Stompers” bringing their own entertaining style to Castleton. It was left to ”The Old Fashioned Love Band” to end the month with the dreamy sounds of Jake Neeves and Mel Hill.

August, and the band of the year (2009/10), the “Les Bull Jazz Band” played the sounds of the summer. An extra gig was arranged for Mayfield’s rugby and real ale festival and the popular “Tame Valley Stompers” did the honours and Peter Frank brought his “Dixielanders” to wind down the month.

September welcomes in the autumn and hot music is needed to warm the fans. First timers “Dave Mott’s Jazz Classics” set the challenge with octogenarian trumpeter Billy Edwards grabbing centre stage and always welcome, Mart Rodger’s “Manchester Jazz” provided three fine sets welcoming back pianist Roger Browne.

Into October and Dave Pogson’s “Spirit of New Orleans” set the pulses racing. We had a final farewell visit of the Midlands “Antique Six Jazz Band” before going their separate ways with a front line of Chris Pearce (reeds) Chris Mercer (trumpet) and Richard Leech (trombone). The Wales/Wirral “Roy Potts Five and a Penny) ended the month’s fine music.

Newcomers the “Silver Bell Band” from Preston saw in November followed by exiled Yorkshireman and cornet master Dennis Armstrong bringing his “Great Northern Jazz Band” to entertain. Midlands regulars “Matt Palmers Millennium Eagle Jazz Band” ended their northern tour by ‘popping in’ to see out the month!

And so December brought another busy year to a close with the annual visit of the multi national “New Orleans Heat”, always crowd pullers led by pianist Barry Grummet with superb reedsman Joan Scantlebury and the powerful cornet of Gwen Lewis, and the Christmas panto with the musical mayhem of the “Tame Valley Stompers” and forward to a successful 2012!