Isomatic UK Weblog

This evening we returned to Brian White's Magna jazz band's new venue, The Manor in Old Malden. We started with a good meal of sausage, egg, beans and chips, washed down with a nice bottle of Chilean Merlot.
Due to bad weather we had a small audience, no Cornet and no drums. Instead we had Gentleman Jim McIntosh, a regular with Max Collie's Rhythm Aces, on banjo (pictured).
Our favourite numbers were as follows:
1. I Can't Give You Anything But Love, generally considered to have been composed by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Dorothy Fields, although some claims have been made that the music was by Fats Waller and the lyrics by Andy Razaf. The link is to a recent version by Diana Krall, showing that there is at least one current singer worthy of the name.
2. When You and I Were Young Maggie, composed by James Butterfield using a poem by George Washington Johnson (Maggie's husband) for the lyrics. The link is to a 1950s recording by Monty Sunshine with Chris Barber on Bass plus Banjo and drums. Brian White stated that it was originally a waltz, to which I responded "Getaway". Although I can imagine it being played in 3/4 time, Digital Tradition Mirror shows the original music in 4/4.
3. Alan Dandy's fine medley of Ellingtonia, particularly Prelude To A Kiss, composed by the Duke, the link being to an Ella Fitzgerald rendering.
4. The incredible ukelele and miniature harmonica feature by Jim McIntosh, comprising:
Jambalaya
Lili Marlene
Bluebirds Over The White Cliffs Of Dover
Oh Suzanna
12th Street Rag.
One woman asked if he ever swallowed it, leading to dirty laughs from some of the other women. I am sure she meant the harmonica !

Labels: Jazz