Isomatic UK Weblog

This evening we went to the Berrylands Hotel in Surbiton, where Brian White's Magna jazz band performs every week. Chez Chesterman (pictured from my archives) replaced Pete Towndrow on Cornet, the remainder of the band being standard. Highlights for sheer pleasure were the Chez vocals, e.g.:
'Round the Clock Blues' AKA 'My Mama Rocks Me', about which I know little except that it was recorded by Big Joe Turner and is said to be the origin of 'Rock Around the Clock';
My request 'Trouble in Mind', the well-known 16-bar blues written by jazz pianist Richard M. Jones (1892-1945), who recorded it in 1926 with singer Bertha "Chippie" Hill and Louis Armstrong on cornet.
We were treated to two Acker Bilk numbers in succession; Brian played 'Stranger on the Shore' as his requested feature and this was followed by 'Boodle-am-Shake' as recorded on the Clarinet Jamboree album by Acker with Terry Lightfoot, Sandy Brown and Archie Semple on four clarinets.
Surprisingly, Selina forsook her complete range of miniskirts and wore a long skirt and long boots. She must have a crystal ball; it was very cold in the room tonight. This gear had the advantage of allowing stockings and suspenders to be worn.

Labels: Jazz