Farnborough Jazz Club

I have been amazed at how we can have so many people turn up ‘out of the blue’, whom we haven’t seen in an age. Even my dear niece, who I haven’t seen for a while, turned up unexpectedly (her first visit to the club). The weird thing is that I quite often mention someone, or just think of someone and they turn up! (Yes, I must be a witch). Friday was one of those funny evenings. However, again we had a lot of regulars missing, some on holiday. As a result of these various ol’ muckers turning up, I missed listening to quite a lot of the evening with all the chatting that came my way (obviously I loved it).
I can say that the remarks from everyone and what I ‘felt’, the result was that ‘Vintage had done it again’. Great music and humour from the band, plus great dancing (even without our star dancers) and great atmosphere, it gave me something to be proud of for my young niece to witness. Well done to all the boys. But what can you expect from ‘Straders’, ‘the Dancing Pulse’, ‘Lee-man’, ‘Dipper’, ‘Scudie’ and the ‘Knight in shining armour’.
So what about next Friday, 30th July? We are having Robin Coombes with his ‘Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band’ for you (see separate band page). So make your way to Farnborough in Kent, to dance the night away to jazz, jazz, jazz, yeah.
Diane & Keith

How can I say just how fantastic the evening was, without making other bands think they’re not special too, because they are all special, especially last week. However, last Friday, 16th July was such a magical ‘cannot possibly-be-repeated’ evening! We had so many regulars missing, but still the atmosphere was electrifying and the band knew it too! I think that even if there hadn’t been a soul there, the band would have been exactly the same. Oh, we have been having some brilliant evenings and how we wished we had them captured on film and/or recorded. There you go, we didn’t and that’s life. Unfortunately, our bookings are full until next year, but we certainly will ask Tony Pitt to come back to us next year, we hope with the same line-up too (already mentioned last week). It was great to see trumpeter, Alan Gresty, whom Keith & I haven’t seen for an age and who hasn’t played at Farnborough before. Drumming man, Matt Skeaping, was on his first night with us too, and gave us some brilliant solos, so we also hope to see him back again. Then to put the icing on the cake, lovely earthy singer, Mary Wilkinson came with hubby Mick (Mick has played in Keith’s band- ‘The KGB’ (stands for the Keith Grant Band!) and ‘The Mac White Quartet’ back in the ’80’s). Naturally, the band asked Mary to sing for us and she delighted everyone with a couple of numbers! When we were nearing 11.30pm, Tony called out to me to ask what time do they finish? I hesitated for a second and yelled out 12.30p.m! I think they were enjoying themselves so much, that they did play on till 11.45pm - lovely.
I can confirm trombonist, Dave Hewett will be back on 13th August with his own band ‘The Condonians’ (which will be celebrating Keith’s birthday – oh I didn’t say that, did I? He doesn’t want me to advertise that fact!). Bassist Andy Laurence will also be in that band. Then there is young Adrian Cox (he tells me he is getting old at 27yrs!). Well, he will be back to Farnborough with The Martyn Brothers Jazz Band on 20th August.
We have had some wonderful photos taken recently by good friends. Howard Leigh photographed Eastside Stompers, Mike Witt photographed Ron Russell’s All Stars band with Digby Fairweather and Mick Wilkinson photographed Tony Pitts All Stars, all good stuff - thanks you three. So as soon as I can cajole my son-in-law, Scot to find some time to tweak the website, to enable us to have photos, I think you will enjoy the many photos we are accumulating.
Next week, 23rd July sees the return of our house band ‘Vintage Jazz’. I know Dave Stradwick is on trumpet, but who else has Terry got with him this week? Need to phone him…. will be back.
Yes, Dave on trumpet, Barry Palser on trombone, John Lee on clarinet/sax, ‘Dipper’ Duddy on drums, Colin Scudamore on banjo and not forgetting Terry Knight on bass. Hope to see a full house tonight.
Diane & Keith
P.S. Thanks for all your lovely comments - keep ‘em coming.

Last Friday, 9th July, Ron Russell’s All Stars, we thought, was just fabulous. Ron’s humour and personality shone through and that is why he has such a large choice of quality musicians. Digby Fairweather performed with such a fantastic flair (did you know he can play bass too!). However Digby, I could feel you wanted to explode forth with even more of your brilliant talent, but because you are so unassuming, I believe you are too embarrassed to over-shine, for fear of people thinking you are showing off. Well Digby, it doesn’t matter if you are in a little club, like ours, or the likes of Carnegie Hall, you can blast out that talent and show off as much as you like – isn’t that a saying, ‘blowing your own trumpet’? ha ha (hopefully you will come back to us). As for Dave Hewett, what a trombonist and Tim Huskisson, fabulous clarinet, what a combination. The ‘engine room’ was great too, with Ron on bass, Jim Douglas on Guitar and Stan Bourke on drums. Again, there was plenty of dancing.
Can I also give another ‘thank you’ to Sheila and Dick Waterhouse, who announced (on the ‘mike’ at their Sidcup Jazz Club), about my faux par - advertising the wrong band (Vintage Jazz). It seems Ron’s cousin (also our friends) was in the audience. She hadn’t seen Ron in years, so she and a small crowd turned up.
Yes, I’ve done it again! Advert in both jazz magazines has 30th July as ‘Sussex Jazz Kings’. We actually have ‘The Phoenix Dixieland Jazz Band’. I just hadn’t updated the bands. I don’t think - well I hope I haven’t made any more mistakes!!!
Friday, 16th July will be ‘Tony Pitt All Stars’ appearance. You may remember seeing Tony at our club, playing banjo in ‘Phil Mason’s All Stars’ band, among other bands. Tony’s own band line-up will be Tony on banjo, Alan Gresty on cornet, Dave Hewett on trombone, Adrian Cox on clarinet, Andy Lawrence on bass and Matt Skeaping on drums. It’s sure to be a blinder. See the separate band page.
Keep on enjoying the Farnborough Jazz Club and its great atmosphere.
Diane and Keith

Gosh, are we over halfway through the year already? Fantastic weather, with fantastic jazz – what more do you want? Friday, 2nd July 2010 gave us a very happy evening. The eight-piece Yerba Buena Band (see their line-up on the band page) were playing in the great West Coast styles of Turk Murphy, Lu Waters and Bob Scobey. The exciting sound had dancers performing with great delight. I am unable to dance at the beginning, being at the entrance desk, but I still love to see that everyone is having fun. So a great big “thank you” to the entire band from all of us.
What can I say about this Friday, 9 July? Just pure jazz of the finest calibre and that will be Ron Russell’s All Stars. Ron has a fantastic line-up for us, with Tim Huskisson on clarinet, Dave Hewett on trombone, Stan Bourke on drums, Jim Douglas on guitar, plus of course Ron himself on bass and the icing on the cake is Digby Fairweather on trumpet. I think if I hadn’t made the mistake with the adverts, we probably wouldn’t be able to get everyone into the club, but with the weather expected to be hot, we shall have the doors open (for any overflow) onto the patio and still enjoy the ambience inside. (Wow, where did all that come from). Seriously, do come along and enjoy some great music.
Diane & Keith
P.S.
The alley way leading to the club has just been named
‘FARROW FIELDS’, after Vic Farrow, Chairman of
the Farnborough Sports Club - nice honour aye? But well deserved.
Arranged by the football committee & footballers.