Farnborough Jazz Club

Wow, wow, wow and double wow!! It is not easy to write about bands each week, because we do not want other bands to feel we don’t appreciate them. However, we had such a fabulous night last Friday, 19 February 2010. Barry approached us last year, to accommodate his band, ‘Barry Martyn and the Young Bloods’, and how pleased we decided to take a chance, as he lives in New Orleans. Having already mentioned last week, who made up the band, there is no need to repeat myself. Well, the reason for the ‘wows’ was they did just that to practically everyone in our large audience. Barry suggested that we can dance, if we wanted. Little did he realise how our audience love to dance and the floor soon became full, only empty, when we all wanted to listen to such songs as Barry’s heart-warming rendition of ‘River, stay away from my door’ (originally by Paul Robeson). The band was GREAT from start to finish (and they forgot to stop, playing on until 11.45pm). They were all so versatile too. At one point, Julian Webster Greaves played a solo sax number and whilst walking around the audience, jumped up on a table still playing. Well, he is young and I’m sure most … well a lot … well a few of our musicians did such things in their past! They all played different instruments in such a variety of styles and sung such great songs. What can we say, except that we have booked them again for next year (20 February 2011). Thanks Barry and the boys for such a super night. Their popularity showed by the many CD’s that were sold. I don’t think we have seen so many purchased since Phil Mason. Speaking of Phil, I hope to write about him in the next week, or so.
On Friday, 26 February, we have the Mahogany Hall Stompers (see separate band info for musicians). What a night they have to follow. However, we know they will give us a great night in a different way, especially with Brian Giles’ wonderful northern sense of humour. We have already had enquiries as to what time to get there, so with all the doom and gloom (and repeat programmes on TV) come on over and join us for a fun night of traditional New Orleans jazz.
Cheers.
Diane and Keith
P.S. Some photographs were taken last week (Barry Martyn’s night). We would love copies of these photos please.

Matt Palmer’s band, The Millennium Eagle Jazz Band, gave such a professional and very enjoyable performance last Friday (12 February), with some great jazz. Oh how you all enjoy a good dance, don’t you, when the tempo is right, and they certainly got it right. Thanks again Matt and the boys. I have already mentioned who was in the band in (what was supposed to have been) last week’s newsletter!

Now to tell you who is on this Friday’s (19^th February). It is Barry Martyn and the Young Bloods. Barry was born in England, but now lives in New Orleans. He has arranged several tours over here, for his band and we have been included in this one. We hear that they were a great success at the 100 Club last week. He (like Robert Duis) is quite a character and advise you not to miss this Friday. The line-up of his band (which includes one of his two sons) is as follows:

Barry Martyn (drums/vocals), Allen Beechey (trumpet), Graham Hughes (trombone), Julian Webster Greaves (tenor sax), Tom Kincaid (piano), and (son) Ben Martyn (string bass)

Now, I am sorry, but I was unable to put the following newsletter on our web last week. However, please enjoy, even though it is a little out of date:-

NEWSLETTER - 10 February 2010

Here we are again, worrying about the snow! But it’s Washington that has a real problem (although not possible for us to run the club, if we cannot even get into the club, or car park). Seriously, we have been hearing reports since last Saturday that we would be in for blizzards, but Carol on BBC news got it right, no real big snow for us. Therefore, we are going ahead with this Friday (12 February 2010) and have the Millennium Eagle Jazz Band, on tour from the Midlands. We hope the cold weather doesn’t deter you from turning up this week. It hasn’t in the past (perhaps you can use your imagination and that you are ‘clubbing’ in the Bahamas; well, it does get hot in the club once you get dancing! Line-up will be:

Matt Palmer (clarinet/sax/vocals), Peter Brown (trumpet/valve trombone/vocals). Andy Holdorf (trombone), Brian Lawrence (double bass/sousaphone), Chris Etherington (banjo/vocals) and Jack Cotterill (drums).

The Great Northern Jazz Band entertained us last Friday (5^th February), with some great numbers and once again, the dance floor was packed. The guys in the band were: Dennis Armstrong (cornet/vocals), Peter Curtis (clarinet/alto sax/vocals), John Howlett (trombone), Malcolm Hogarth (piano), Andy Maynard (banjo), Isabel Toner (string bass) and Warren Latham (drums/vocals). Their next date with us will be 26 November 2010.

I promised to tell you who was in the Limehouse Jazz Band, when they appeared on Friday, 22 January (when on tour from Holland). They were:

Robert Duis (leader/cornet 1), Louis Lanzing (musical director/cornet 2),

Rob Radoux (alto sax 1/clarinet 1), Alhard Zwart (alto sax 2/clarinet 2),

David Lucacks (tenor sax/clarinet 3), Jan Elsink (trombone),

Jan van der Woord (piano), Stef Geurts (drums/vocals), Patrick Weeghmans (tuba)

And Sir Wil van Schaik (banjo).

Providing we are still alive, we shall have them back in September 2011!!

Keep on jazzin’. Diane & Keith.

Millenium Eagle Jazz Band will be performing this Friday at the Farnborough Jazz Club.

We look forward to seeing you.

Diane and Keith