This evening we saw the Panama Cafe Orchestra at
the Cricketers in Horsell Birch, Woking. The band comprised Dave Lowe (cornet, vocals), Richard White (clarinet, alto sax, baritone sax,
vocals), Chris Lowe (trombone, vocals), Graham Collicott (grand percussion), Chris Houslander (sousaphone) and Dave Griffiths (banjo).
The picture shows Graham's equipment, which he insists I do not call a drum kit. It is certainly a different set-up from that usually associated with jazz.
The band's first full number was 'Panama', which Chris insists on incorrectly calling 'Panama Rag' just to annoy me. Panama is a jazz standard, composed by William H. Tyers, published in 1912 and originally entitled 'Panama, a Characteristic Novelty'. The original tango or maxie rhythm is usually discarded in favour of 4/4 time but can still be detected in some versions, such as the early recording by Johnny DeDroit's Band. Some later generations (young lads like Chris perhaps ?) have confused it with Panama Rag, a totally different, rather obscure, ragtime number composed by Charles Seymour in 1904. This lesser known number was recorded by the New Orleans Ragtime Orchestra and was reportedly played by Buddy Bolden when the tune was new. I rest my case, with due acknowledgment to Google, Wikipedia and all other sources.
Chris also thinks every blues must be of the 12 bar variety; wrong again. An eight bar blues is a typical blues chord progression, taking eight 4/4 bars to the verse. 'How Long Blues', 'Trouble in Mind' and 'Ain't Nobody's Business' are fine examples of eight-bar blues standards.
At our table were Brian Hicks, George Eatwell and Tony Aycliffe. Much amusement was generated by both waiters studiously avoiding George's imperious summons to serve him. I (quietly and politely) ordered the Cricketers' spare ribs for the first time. They were superb; tender, tasty and lots of them. I have suffered too long from the memory of dreadful spare ribs in Kingston; that restaurant did not survive.
At Tony's request, the young lady that Axel described as 'cute' has introduced herself as 'Jill'. Now that we have two Jills we have to distinguish them without giving in to the obvious old Jill and young Jill ! Axel should be back next week so will need to be updated with all this vital information.
Labels: Jazz
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