Isomatic UK Weblog

This evening we went to the St Leonards Hotel, Dorset, to see John Maddocks Jazzmen for only the third time. This traditional jazz band comprises John Maddocks (clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, vocals), Peter Wilkinson (trumpet, vocals), Tony Farr (trombone), Chris Satterley (keyboard, vocals, pictured), Peter McCurry (string bass, tuba), Dave Broomfield, (banjo, guitar) and Brian Barker (drums). Our favourite numbers were:
1) Elephant Stomp, played by the Humphrey Lyttelton band on this link.
2) Just a Closer Walk With Thee, a traditional gospel song played on this link by the Chris Barber Band.
3) Chris Satterley's second vocal of the evening Some Of These Days, composed by Shelton Brooks in 1910 for the 'Last of the Red-Hot Mamas, it became a signature song for Sophie Tucker, featured on this link.

During the 4 weeks since our last visit to the St Leonards, someone had introduced John Maddocks to this weblog and he mentioned it this evening. Compliments will now be exchanged; we like his band and he likes our weblog. We were asked to provide requests in writing for the April gig. As a challenge for John, I requested Shreveport Stomp.

Labels: Jazz

This evening we went to The Regent Centre in Christchurch to see Marty Wilde and the Wildcats perform songs from the 1950s and early 60s. The theatre was packed to capacity with an enthusiastic audience, all paying the 'concessions' price. In the first half the Wildcats performed without Marty, all but the drummer singing at some time. Our favourite number from this set was Be Bop A Lula, composed by Gene Vincent, who performs it on this link. Note the great guitar backing by the greatest rock guitarist of all time, Cliff Gallup. He sounds even better on Race With The Devil.
For the second set the Wildcats were joined by Marty, who looks incredibly young for his age. He performed numerous songs, including his big hits:
Donna, written and originally sung by Ritchie Valens;
Danny, written by Ben Weisman with lyrics by Fred Wise and recorded for the film King Creole but eventually eliminated. I remember listening to it on the juke box in a cafe in Plaistow as a teenager;
Bad Boy, Marty's own composition
Teenager in Love, written by Doc Pomus with Mort Shuman and originally sung by Dion and the Belmonts.
However, our favourite was Apron Strings, written by Aaron Schroeder with George David Weiss and first recorded publicly by Cliff Richard, although Elvis Presley had already made a home recording not intended for release.
A great evening of nostalgia that had us all singing along.

Labels: Pop Music

Our house in Guildford is now for sale through Haart Estae Agents. We have had many viewings and a few offers but all too low. After 27 years it will be strange to leave the house for ever but it is too large for a couple with no other family.

Labels: Money

This evening we went to the George & Dragon in Thames Ditton to see the John Barnes quartet, comprising John Barnes (baritone sax, alto sax, clarinet), Nigel Fox (keyboard, pictured), Mick Durell (bass guitar) and Don Cook (drums, vocal). Guests were Pete Skivington (bass guitar, pictured) and Jim Trimmer (vocals, pictured). Our favourite numbers were:
1) The Way You Look Tonight, composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Dorothy Fields, for the musical film 'Swing Time and introduced in the original production by Fred Astaire. The link is to a vocal by Billie Holiday.
2) Nigel's feature, with Mick, It Could Happen To You, written in 1944 by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke. The link is to the recent version by Diana Krall, possibly the only current artist we ever feature on this weblog. Worth a little picture, I think (last in set).
3) Jim Trimmer's first guest vocal, Hey There, You With The Stars In Your Eyes from 'The Pajama Game' score by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. It is sung on this link by that great singer Rosemary Clooney. We have only just discovered that George Clooney is her nephew.

Labels: Jazz

This evening we returned to Brian White's Magna jazz band's new venue, The Manor in Old Malden. Ken Reece was on cornet and Jim Mcintosh was on banjo (pictured together).
Our favourite numbers were as follows:
1. The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise, by the concert pianist Ernest Seitz, who had conceived the refrain when he was 12. Embarrassed about writing popular music, Seitz used the pseudonym "Raymond Roberts" when the song was first published by Chappell in 1919. The link is to a famous banjo feature by the Firehouse five plus two.
2. Clarinet Marmalade, composed in 1918 by Edwin B. Edwards, Nick LaRocca, Tony Spargo & Larry Shields of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. This link is to that very band.
3. Tin Roof Blues, the link being to the New Orleans Rhythm Kings, who claimed to have composed it. It was actually stolen from an early blues riff by legendary New Orleans cornetist Buddy Petit called 'Rusty Nail Blues'.

Labels: Jazz

This evening Selina and I celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary, going out with Benoit de la Rue, our new French member of staff at Boost Energy Systems Ltd. He drove us to The Ewe at Weston Green for home-cooked food. They serve real chips, made by peeling real potatoes !
We continued to the George & Dragon in Thames Ditton so that Benoit (pictured) could play his alto Sax with the John Barnes quartet, comprising John Barnes (baritone sax, tenor sax, clarinet), Alan Berry (keyboard), Mick Durell (double bass) and Don Cook (drums). The other guest was John Lang (trombone).
Benoit led the group for Petite Fleur, composed by Sidney Bechet, who is performing it on this link. Benoit then joined the band in an improvised blues, which seemed to suit him very well. He must have nerves of steel; I know how hard it is to perform in public.
Other notable numbers were:
1) Here Comes That Rainy Day, in latin style, as on the link.
2) It's a Sin to Tell a Lie, a 1936 popular song by Billy Mayhew. The link is to the famous Fats Waller version.
3) As it is Mardi Gras today, St Thomas, composed by Sonny Rollins, who plays it on this link.

Labels: Eating out, Jazz

This evening we went to the The Barrington Centre in Ferndown to see Marc Robinson and the Counterfeit Crickets. Marc looks and sounds like Buddy with ace lead guitarist Adrian playing the original backings brilliantly. There was also a Billy Fury tribute singer.
It is hard to pick favourite numbers as they were all equally good. The one that I am still humming is Blue Days, Black Nights, Buddy's first published recording. We have it on a cassette tape of early recordings that I bought in Phoenix, Arizona and played over and over all the way to the Grand Canyon and Back.
If Marc or any of the band should read this, why not perform:
Listen to Me
Midnight Shift
and
Words of Love.

Labels: Pop Music

This evening we went to the George & Dragon in Thames Ditton to see Pete Cook (alto sax, baritone sax, pictured), Alan Dandy (keyboard), Mick Durell (Fender bass guitar) and Don Cook (drums). Guests were 'Alan' (vocals, pictured) and John Lang (trombone).
The numbers we enjoyed most were:
1) Careless Love, a traditional song of obscure origins despite the copyright by W C Handy. This link is to the great Bessie Smith.
2) Alan Dandy's beautiful solo Willow Weep For Me, officially composed by Ann Ronell in 1932 but possibly composed by her then-friend George Gershwin. It is played on this link by Claude Hopkins, pianist and bandleader, (1903 - 1984). Often overlooked by historians, Claude Hopkins was a major contributor to the development of early jazz and swing music.
3) You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To, composed by Cole Porter and sung on this link by Julie London.
4) Alan Dandy and Mick Durell playing Gentle Rain, composed by Luis Bonfa and sung on this link by Astrud Gilberto.

Labels: Jazz

This evening we went to the Tivoli Theatre in Wimborne to see Peter Donegan performing with the Lonnie Donegan Band, comprising Paul Henry (Lead Guitar), Chris Hunt (Drums), Sticky Wicket (Percussion) and Eddie Masters (Bass). Peter sang and played keyboard, Acoustic Guitar, Banjo, Harmonica and Mandolin. It was a great evening combining old 1950s skiffle numbers with Peter's own compositions.
My favourite was the blues number Rocks in my Bed perfomed on this link by Lonnie Johnson. Paul Henry played superbly in a more modern blues style, drawing applause from the audience.
Selina preferred Mule Skinner Blues, the link being to an early Lonnie Donegan version with Denny Wright on guitar.
The Tivoli is a beautiful old theatre from 1936, lovingly restored after being closed for many years. Tonight's audience were almost entirely of an age for whom the 1950s were full of great musical memories. They sang along whenever invited, requested numbers (unsuccessfully) and one even asked Peter to confirm that his guitar was a Martin.
We will surely visit the Tivoli again; but will we get another opportunity to see the Lonnie Donegan Band ?

Labels: Concerts

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

This evening we went to the George & Dragon in Thames Ditton to see the John Barnes quartet, comprising John Barnes (baritone sax, tenor sax, clarinet), Alan Dandy (keyboard), Mick Durell (bass guitar) and Don Cook (drums). The only guest was John Lang (trombone, pictured with John). Our favourite numbers were:
1) But Not For Me, composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin for their musical Girl Crazy (1930) and introduced in the original production by Ginger Rogers. The link is to a vocal by Julie London.
2) The wonderful song Lover Come Back To Me, written by Sigmund Romberg with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II in 1928 for the Broadway show The New Moon, where the song was introduced by Evelyn Herbert and Robert Halliday (as Robert Misson). The link is to the Brenda Lee hit of 1961 (nostalgia again).
3) Alan Dandy's first solo feature, a Gershwin medley based on How Long Has This Been Going On sung on this link by Peggy Lee.
4) Alan Dandy's second solo feature, his own boogie-woogie composition 'Down By The River'. No link I am sorry to say.

We persuaded John Barnes not to try and play the clarinet part of Jelly Roll Morton's Shreveport Stomp again. I asked if he was proving that the best clarinet players of today are still not as good as the greats of the past such as Omer Simeon. John replied that Julian Marc Stringle could probably play it; praise indeed.

Labels: Jazz