Sammy Rimington with the John Petters All Star Band

This was the big one!

A visit to Castleton of the world famous Leeds supremo Sammy Rimington on a short tour with the John Petters All Star Band and the place was packed with many musicians attending to pay homage to the maestro. A programme of classics and standards played by a hand picked collection of musical masters.

Opening the first set with 'Baby Face' the band dusted down their instruments to follow with the superb trombone of Mike Pointon on 'Smile Darn You Smile'. Trumpeter Cuff Billet vocalised on 'Exactly Like You' with Rimington's sax and rhythm section - a piano and bass duo by the veteran Stan Greig and the Antipodean Annie Hawkins lit up 'Alice Bluegown', 'Georgia On My Mind' flowed to the mellow Sax and driving Trombone and Cuff played 'Off The Cuff' with 'Panama'.

'Don't Take Your Love Away From Me' featured Pointon's rich trombone sound, a Boogie medley by Greig and drummer John Petters had the place jumping and a rousing multi-instrumental 'Climax Rag' were highlights of a second set with Rimington's Clarinet always at the fore.

An eagerly awaited third set included the popular 'At The Mardigras', a beautiful arrangement of 'Abide With Me' with Piano, Clarinet, Bass & Drums. 'I Want To Be Happy', 'Over The Waves' with a Petters Drum solo which would have awakened the dead in Birmingham, and Pointon's vocal and trombone solo on 'Sweethearts On Parade' - simply out of this world!

A great birthday present for the promoter - ebullient Terry Eastwood - and well deserved!

Jazz on Sunday
May 2002