Isomatic UK Weblog

This evening we paid our first visit to Brian White's Magna jazz band's new venue, The Manor in Old Malden. This is very different from the Berrylands, particularly the landlord, Gary, who seems keen on live music and its ability to attract customers. We plan to go again with a different band playing and try the food.
Chez Chesterman replaced Pete Towndrow on Cornet again, the remainder of the band being standard. Chez was, once again, accompanied by the ever-bubbly Carol, who had to sit opposite us because of the revised audience layout.
Our favourite numbers were as follows:
1. Chez's first vocal I Can't Sleep, written by Montana Taylor, an American boogie-woogie pianist best known for his recordings in the 1940s and regarded as the leading exponent of the barrelhouse piano style. The link is to an unplugged version by Tineke Schoemaker and Han van Dam of Barrelhouse, often announced as best blues band of the Netherlands. Stick with it through all the Dutch chat; you get more blues eventually.
2. Chez's second vocal, my request, Streamline Train, written by 'Cripple' Clarence Lofton and 'Red' Nelson. The link is to Lofton himself, playing piano and singing. Chez announced that this number was the basis for Humphrey Lyttleton's 'Bad Penny Blues'.
Alan Dandy's fine medley of two numbers:
3. A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square, composed by Manning Sherwin and Jack Strachey with lyrics by Eric Maschwitz, the link being to Marion McPartland.
4. Black Butterfly, composed by Duke Ellington and played by his orchestra on this link.

Labels: Jazz