Isomatic UK Weblog

This evening we went to The Manor in Old Malden to see Brian White's Magna jazz band. Chez Chesterman (pictured) was on Cornet, the remainder of the band being standard. Chez was, once again, accompanied by the lovely Carol, who led the four of us into much 'adult conversation'.
Our favourite numbers (ignoring Chez' vocals for a change) were as follows:
1. Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams, composed in 1931 by Harry Barris with lyrics by Ted Koehler and Billy Moll. Selina and I danced to this one. The link is to a recording by Les Paul and Mary Ford; what a wonderful voice she had.
2. Alan Dandy's solo feature Chicago Breakdown AKA Stratford Hunch, composed by Jelly Roll Morton, who is featured on this link.
3. Trombone feature Ory's Creole Trombone, composed by Kid Ory, playing it on this link.
4. Riverside Blues, which Mike Walmsley in Toronto informs me was composed by Thomas A Dorsey, not the trombonist but an earlier ragtime composer. The link is to the Dutch Swing College recording from the 1950's, one of the many that Selina provided as her dowry.

We asked Brian to play Shreveport Stomp but he declined. In answer to the question "who can play it who still lives", Brian and Chez agreed that James Evans can not only play it but can make it swing. Carol asked for a definition of 'swing' to which we had no answer. Wikipedia says:
The verb 'to swing' is used as a term of praise for playing that has a strong rhythmic 'groove' or drive. I am not sure that helps.

Labels: Jazz