Isomatic UK Weblog

This evening we saw the Panama Cafe Orchestra at the Cricketers in Horsell Birch, Woking. The band comprised Dave Lowe (cornet, vocals), Richard White (washboard, cymbal, vocals), Chris Lowe (trombone), John Lawes (clarinet, vocals), Chris Houslander (sousaphone) and Dave Griffiths (banjo).
Dave Lowe, playing a borrowed cornet, took a while to achieve his normal sweet tone but John Lawes' clarinet and voice were as good as ever. Our favourite numbers were:
Bix Beiderbecke's 'Davenport Blues' to which we danced;
Jelly Roll Morton's 'Kansas City Stomp';
'Canal Street Blues';
John's vocal 'Melancholy Blues' to which we danced;
and, best of all, John's finest vocal 'Black and Blue', another excuse for a dance.
It is interesting to note that most of the nominations and all the dancing were for the blues. They are numbers that allow the musicians and the dancers to explore subtle timing variations.
We had a good crowd at our table; Axel (who said Selina is 'still beautiful'), Alan 'Mr Sherry' Roper (encouraging us to see even more jazz), Tony (who thought the band were poor until they had warmed up) and Don (who says he does not get out much).

Labels: Jazz