Farnborough Jazz Club

We quoted last week (Friday, 23 April) that the Savanah Jazz Band from West Yorkshire are an extremely popular band and you proved us right. We had a good turnout, including a few who had not been to our little club before. Yes, their popularity is warranted. They are a lovely bunch of guys, who played wonderfully and all had a great sense of humour. Of course there was plenty of dancing, since they already knew about us lot down here, having paired up with Vintage Jazz at the many Hayes jazz Festivals (lots of us enjoyed those days-aye?). Just for your reference, the guys in the band were their leader John Meehan on drums, Bill Smith on cornet, Rod Chambers on clarinet & saxes, Brian ‘Sam’ Ellis on trombone, Tony Pollitt on Bass and Louis Lince on banjo. .
This Friday (30th April), Vintage Jazz are back. Once again we’re looking forward to a fun night. Curiosity got to you yet? If you haven’t been to the club, pop along and try us out, it doesn’t take long to make new friends. It will only cost you £7 entrance fee, for a wonderful evening’s entertainment of great music. There is always a great atmosphere.
Keep jazzing.
Diane & Keith

Well, what can I say about Friday,16th April 2010 and the Vintage Jazz Band? What an exciting evening, they are going from strength to strength. I asked all ‘Vintage’ fans to turn up and lots did and were not disappointed because Vintage were (in Keith’s words) fx!*#+ng marvellous, weren’t they? The best part of the evening for me was when they played Glen Miller’s ‘In the Mood’ (apparently, the one-armed trumpeter, Wingy Manone’s “Tar Paper Stomp” in 1930, used a riff that later became the basis for it). If you have seen the film, ‘The Glen Miller Story’, it was what they were playing for the hospitalised troops during WWII and a doodlebug was about to come down on them. The band played softly until it is about to fall on them, then they blasted out to try to move the bomb on further. I was so proud of Vintage Jazz’s playing (sorry to go on, but it was a fab’ night). The band consisted of Alan Snook on trumpet, Barry Palser on trombone, John Lee on clarinet & sax, Terry Knight on double bass, Dipper Duddy on drums and this week was Jim McKintosh on banjo.
This Friday, 23rd April is the Savanah Jazz Band from West Yorkshire. They are extremely popular, so you will need to get here early because we expect a crowd. Even though there is plenty of parking space, we would be grateful if you could park sensibly please - thanks.
PS. If you can only see this Newsletter column and you are unable to see the other pages (right of this column) giving a little history of Keith and I, how to find us, band listing and pages about the various bands, please let me know. (e-mail diane@farnboroughjazz.co.uk).
Diane and Keith

What a marvellous, marvelous evening Friday, 9th April was. Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces gave us such a wonderfully refreshing evening. The band played great jazz, with a little bit of rock ‘n’ roll and a blues number thrown in too (a solo number wonderfully sung and played by Max Emins on his harmonica). So many dancers were lured onto the floor and they all had fun. So many smiling faces too. They even played one of Keith’s favourite numbers, the Jack Teagarden’s ‘One Hundred Years from Today’, which Bob sang extremely well. Even our purists loved the evening. Well done Bob. They are booked to return 27th August 2010.
This Friday, 16th April, Vintage Jazz Band are back and, after last time, I am ready for a fun evening again. Come on all you ‘Vintage’ fans, see you Friday
Diane and Keith
P.S. Don’t forget that the highly popular Savannah Jazz Band will be appearing here on Friday, 23rd April.

I have found it difficult to start this week’s newsletter. However, we must keep George’s music alive, so here we go. Two weeks ago, we had the Original Eastside Stompers, with whom the club has a great rapport. It is always party time when they appear and 26^th March was no exception. Unfortunately, Brian Lawrence (Banjo) was unable to play. He has badly damage a finger and it is not known how soon he will be able to play again, such a worry. He turned up to see us all, but was faced with lots of jokes - sorry Brian, hope you were able to take the mickey-taking. Bob (Southend Bob) Albutt took Brian’s place. Len and the rest of the guys were all in fine fettle and there were plenty of ‘lovely, ol’, lovely ol’ one’s. (See special band page about the band for the rest of the line-up.) Their return date is on 21^st May.   Last week, 2^nd April (Good Friday), we had Vintage Jazz, who were almost back to their regular band. Dipper Duddy (drums) and Alan Snook (trumpet) had returned from their holidays and Colin Scudamore was back on banjo. So with John Lee on his great sax and Barry Palser (who continues to dep for John Shelley) on trombone, they were buzzing. Band organiser, Terry Knight, on double bass, looked positively proud as punch and beaming from ear to ear, because he was enjoying the music so much. Quite a lot of our regulars were away, for one reason, or another. However, we had many newcomers, so again another successful evening.     We look forward to seeing you this Friday, 9^th April, when we shall have Bob Dwyer’s Bix & Pieces (see special band page for their line-up and information).

Diane and Keith.

GEORGE WEBB
Jazz Pioneer, Band Leader, Pianist
8 October 1917 - 10 March 2010 (Aged 92½ yrs)
Tuesday, 31st March 2010, was George Webb’s funeral. It was bitterly cold, but on my way, the sun was shining and continued to shine until we were all inside the United Services Club (home to Sidcup Jazz Club). The Humanist service was conducted by Celebrant, Denis Cobell. I would guess there was at least a 300-strong crowd outside to see George’s coffin, followed by the family (on foot), plus Jim ‘Jimbo’ Pack as Grand Marshall, leading 20 musicians playing Jazz. The rain held off until we were all inside. Great and comical tributes were given by John Letchford and Sir Richard Waterhouse (ask him about his title). Then George Webb’s ‘Band of Brothers’ played that lovely number ‘Georgia on My Mind’, sung by Charlie Connor. Then Digby Fairweather and George’s daughter, Penny gave their tributes. Your Dad would have been extremely proud of you, Penny. All the tributes were given with such humour, remembering funny memories, although I will not repeat them, as they are their stories. Then, whilst George and the family were departing for the Humanist Ceremony, the band played them on their way with ‘When the Red, Red Robin’, being the signature tune of Charlton Athletic Football Club. We all tried to sing it, but were all a bit choked up. As most of you are aware, George was an avid Charlton supporter (me being the other!) There was probably about 50 or 60 famous musicians and most of them took a turn at playing, whilst we all had a drink in George’s memory. I have a special bit of pride, because a photo chosen to appear on the programme of service, showing George and the band, perchance was taken on my birthday at our very own Farnborough Jazz Club. I have to say that no one ‘likes’ a funeral, but George must have been full of pride at all the happy faces of those of us who were celebrating his very colourful life. The warm and happy atmosphere was just as one would expect at a funeral of such a man, full of music and laughter.
Diane & Keith