The brilliant young Martyn Brothers’ Jazz Band will be performing on Friday, 13th January 2012 here at Farnborough Jazz Club and is sure to be a special evening, so miss it at your loss! First of all, I’ll be celebrating my birthday and we have a ‘gangsters & moles’ fancy dress planned (although optional). Quite funny really, the band have just returned from Chicago - how’s that for a coincidence! Keith and I are really looking forward to having these very talented guys back again, namely Emile Martyn on drums, Ben Martyn on double bass/vocals, Alan Beechey on cornet, George Simmons on trumpet, Don Pitkin on piano and a very special guest is Sammy Rimmington Jnr on clarinet, what a line-up and all for £8 entry.
I wonder if you have missed us. I am still encountering problems with my computer, so please be patient and I shall have it all under control. It is also my aim to have photos and videos on board as soon as possible, I know the site is a bit boring, but the intention, is to let you know who is performing each week.
Last Friday, 6th January 2012, we started our new year’s entertainment with Bob Dwyer’s Bits & Pieces. Such a lovely band, I saw nothing but smiling faces. There was plenty of dancing, but occasionally the floor was empty, owing to the fact the audience wanted to just listen to the great talent! It was such a fun evening and I found I hadn’t written down the tunes played as I was enjoying myself too much, although one such number that needs a special mention is ‘Elephant Stomp’. This was played solo by John Bayne on ‘Big Bertha’ (Bass Sax). He can play that number every time he plays for us, because he plays it fantastically! He is also the double bass player for the band. The rest of the players are leader Bob Dwyer on trombone & vocals, Malcolme Walton on trumpet & vocal, Duncan Hemstock on clarinet/tenor sax, Hugh Crozier on piano & Vocals, Paul Sealey on banjo and Laurie Chesco on drums. A couple of other numbers I recall were Fats Domino’s R&B song ‘Blue Monday’ (written in 1952 by Dave Bartholomew), another R&B number called ‘Caldonia’ (believed written in 1945 by Louis Jordan) and a Bix Beiderbecke song ‘I’ll be a friend (with pleasure)’ (written in 1920’s by Maceo Pinkard). This band’s secret is variety and by the by, their next date with us is 18th May 2012.
Here’s wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year.
Diane and Keith
P.S. Just a little laugh for you, it is believed to be bad luck if we do not to remove our Christmas decorations by the end of 12th night (5th January), something to do with 13th being unlucky. Chatting to my daughter, I mentioned about another believed unlucky situation, i.e. walking under a ladder? I recalled a situation years ago, whilst pregnant with my first baby. I was working near Fleet Street, London, which has a narrow pavement. There was a ladder resting against a building, straddled across the pavement. I was about to walk under the ladder, at which point my friend grabbed me and pushed me outside the ladder and into the road! However, I was narrowly missed being hit by a lorry. So much for bad luck, but I suppose we try not to tempt providence, aye! So I will conclude wishing you all a ‘lucky New Year too.