Isomatic UK Weblog

This evening we went to the Berrylands Hotel in Surbiton, where the Magna jazz band performs every week. On this occasion the band comprised birthday boy Pete Towndrow (cornet, trumpet), Dave Hewett (slide trombone, baritone horn, pictured from the archive), Goff Dubber, (clarinet, soprano sax, pictured from the archive), Alan Dandy (keyboard), Richard Lyons (string bass) and Rex Bennett (drums). I noted 18 great numbers, i.e. all of them. We will mention a select few.

'But Beautiful', by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke, published in 1947 but not played much in front of us;
Goff's feature 'Si tu vois ma mère' AKA 'Lonesome', by Sidney Bechet;
Dave's baritone horn feature 'When You Wish Upon a Star', by Ned Washington and Leigh Harline, introduced in the 1940 Walt Disney film Pinocchio, sung by Cliff Edwards (Ukelele Ike);
Goff's vocal 'Back o' Town Blues', with Pete slipping in a phrase or two from 'The Bugler's lament';
Alan's solo, the beautiful Hoagy Carmichael number 'Skylark', much modified by Alan to include a little of 'Singing in the Rain' and 'Rhapsody in Blue'.

Sylvia Hewett sat in the front row with us, suggesting once more that we should come to her jazz club; Sylvie's Place. It is such a pity that it is in Warlingham on a Wednesday. If it were closer or on a Saturday we would be sure to go.

Labels: Jazz