Isomatic UK Weblog

This evening we saw Brian White's Magna jazz band at The Manor in Old Malden.
Our favourite numbers were as follows:
1. Pretty Baby, written by Tony Jackson during the Ragtime era. The 1916 sheet music credits Jackson along with Gus Kahn and Egbert Van Alstyne but their involvement is not clear. The link is to Doris Day in her early years; more jazzy than usual.
2. Peter Winn's request I Can't Say. This link is to the Johnny Dodds version. 'I can't say' who composed it.
3. Brian White's own beautiful composition, 'Gently Does It'.
4. Alan Dandy's trio (pictured) feature Tea For Two, from the 1925 musical No, No, Nanette with music by Vincent Youmans and lyrics by Irving Caesar. The link is to an unusual Django Reinhardt solo.

In the raffle I won a CD of trumpet and vocals by Nat Gonella, a favourite of my father. I note that one of the tracks is 'Oh Monah', often sung by my mother to indicate that I complained too much and too often. I still maintain that I had good reason to moan.

Labels: Jazz

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), Alan Dandy (keyboard), Mick Durell (double bass) and Trevor Tomkins (drums, in picture background). The guests were John Lang (trombone) and 'Alan' (vocals, pictured). Our favourite numbers were:
1) My request Can't Help Loving That Man Of Mine, composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, for the musical 'Showboat'. The link is to Kiri Te Kanawa with the Australian pops orchestra.
Alan Dandy's double feature with Mick:
2) Gone With the Wind, written in 1937 by Allie Wrubel with lyrics by Herb Magidson and sung on this link by Ella Fitzgerald.
3) Shiny Stockings, composed by Frank Foster and sung by Ella again.

Selina wore her electric blue tights, much admired by at least two men present.

Labels: Jazz

We have a surge of e-mail messages asking for support for action against rising fuel prices. I would just like to say that low prices have restricted surveying for new sources of crude oil. The fleets of seismic survey vessels have been idle at the dock side, wasting millions of pounds. This is not good for the world's future. We are now seeing some activity from our position as suppliers to that business.

Also many rural petrol stations are closing because the profit margins are so low. This is a problem for those people in the most need, those for whom there is no alternative form of transport.

Conversely, the high tax on road fuel is dragging our economy down. I believe the government should compensate by ending the wasteful, inefficient, ineffective, vehicle excise duty.

Labels: Transport

This evening we saw Brian White's Magna jazz band at The Manor in Old Malden (pictured).
Our favourite numbers were as follows:
1. Corinne Corinna, first recorded by Bo Chatmon and the Mississippi Sheiks but not copyrighted until 1932 by Chatmon and his publishers, Mitchell Parish and J. Mayo Williams. The link is to Big Joe Turner singing, backed by a rock-and-roll saxophone.
2. Love Me or Leave Me, written by Walter Donaldson with lyrics by Gus Kahn and introduced in the Broadway play 'Whoopee' in 1928, sung by Ruth Etting. This link is to the Peggy Lee version. Peter Winn was the only person present who knew who composed it.
3. Wabash Blues, words by Dave Ringle and music by Fred Meinken and the first success for pianist, saxophonist and song composer Isham Jones. This link is to the Fletcher Henderson version. Wabash presumably refers to the river; the Wabash Cannonball is fictional.
4. Alan Dandy's beautiful solo feature Echo of Spring, composed by Willie "The Lion" Smith in 1938. The link is to Robbie Rhodes at the El Segundo Ragtime Festival.

I was tackled at the bar by a guy who had been avidly reading this weblog. He commented that I was very self-opinionated (probably true if I could spell it). I asked for an example and he quoted car parking. I wondered if he was referring to (Thursday, November 11, 2004) when I complained about pay-and-display at hospitals. If so I stand by my view that this is evil. He agreed with that but thought that otherwise heavy traffic made car parking problems inevitable. I missed the opportunity to comment on private 'clamping' in Windsor, more evil.

Labels: Jazz

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), Alan Dandy (keyboard), Mick Durell (bass guitar) and Don Cook (drums). The only guest was John Lang (trombone). Our favourite numbers were:
1) Secret Love, composed in 1953 by Sammy Fain with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster for the musical 'Calamity Jane', where it was sung by Doris Day. The link is to the later Kathy Kirby hit.
2) Alan Dandy's first solo feature Autumn Leaves, composed by Joseph Kosma with English words by Johnny Mercer and played on this link by guitarist Manuel Granada. Alan wove in some Chopin and a snatch of 'Suicide is Painless', the M.A.S.H theme
3) John's vocal You're a Sweetheart, from the 1937 musical of that name, where it was sung by Alica Faye as on this link. The composer was Jimmy McHugh.
4) Alan Dandy's second solo feature, Stratford Hunch AKA Chicago Breakdown, composed by Jelly Roll Morton. The link is to a Louis Armstrong. recording.

Two well-endowed young blonde women sat alongside us at the beginning of the evening. One complimented Selina on her legs and figure, shown off by a white teenage-style mini-skirt. She then asked Selina's age, a request that was refused. After some thought she estimated 48; the greatest compliment of all time !

Labels: Jazz

This evening we visited the Forest Arts Centre in Old Milton, Hampshire, for 'Gypsy Swing' by the Joscho Stephan Trio. This fine trio comprises Joscho (lead guitar), his father Günter (rhythm guitar) and Max Schaaf (double bass). Joscho is a wonderful guitarist, playing mostly in the Django Reinhardt style but with some Chet Atkins finger style thrown in when it suits. Every number was great so we will just provide a few examples, with links to performances on YouTube.
1) Django's Tiger, composed by Django Reinhardt.
2) Mr Sandman, written by Pat Ballard in 1954 and first recorded in that year by The Chordettes.
3) Rondo Alla Turka, from the third movement of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Piano Sonata No. 11 in A major, K 331.
4) Bossa Dorado, composed by Dorado Schmitt.
Anyone who likes jazz guitar should get along to see these guys; they are just brilliant !

Labels: Jazz

This evening we went to see The Magna jazz band at The Manor in Old Malden.
Ken Reece was on cornet again with Mike Pointon on trombone and John Lee playing clarinet and tenor saxophone. They made a great front line.
Our favourite numbers were as follows:
1. I'm Confessing, composed in 1930 by Doc Daugherty and Ellis Reynolds, with lyrics by Al Neiburg. The link is to Louis Armstrong playing and singing.
2. Buddy Bolden's Blues, written by Jelly Roll Morton, singing and playing on this link.
3. Alan's solo feature Lotus Blossom, written by Bily Strayhorn. This link just has to be to the Duke Ellington version. Alan also played the alternative version, Charlotte Rousse.
4. John Lee's beautiful feature A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square, with lyrics by Eric Maschwitz and music by Manning Sherwin and Jack Strachey. The link is to a Stephane Grappelli recording as this number seems perfect for the violin.

We told Mike Pointon and Frances how on Tuesday Selina was asked if she was the band's groupie. Mike and I agreed that it was a compliment, implying that Selina is sexy (true).

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, pictured), Mick Durell (bass guitar, pictured in background) and Don Cook (drums). The only guest was John Lang (trombone). Our favourite numbers were:
1) Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered, composed by Richard Rodgers, with lyrics by Lorenz Hart, for their musical 'Pal Joey'. The link is to Doris Day from the film 'Teacher's Pet'.
Alan Dandy's double solo feature:
2) Blame it on my Youth, composed by Oscar Levant and sung on this link by Nat King Cole
3) Blues in The Night, composed by Harold Arlen and performed on this link by Peggy Lee.
4) Alan Dandy's duet with Mick, Recado, composed by Djalma Ferreira. The link is to the Hank Mobley recording.

A very bold young woman came into the bar and asked if any of the band could suggest a young female jazz singer for a gig. She then sat next to Selina and asked her if she was the groupie. Selina gave her plenty of stick !

Labels: Jazz

This morning we drove out from East Dorset to West Dorset, stopping for coffee and cake at Bellenie's Bake House, Abbotsbury. We can recommend this for friendly service and early opening, plus fine cake.

Labels: Travel

This evening we went to the Bournemouth Pavilion for the BSO performance of 'Movie Classics', conducted by Pete Harrison (pictured). Works Performed were

1. Steiner : Gone with the Wind
2. Korngold : The Sea Hawk
3. Steiner : Casablanca
4. Rozsa : Quo Vadis
5. Alford : Bridge on the River Kwai
6. Moross : The Big Country
7. Hermann : North by Northwest
8. Rozsa : Ben Hur
9. Bernstein : The Magnificent Seven
10. Rota : La Dolce Vita
11. Jarre : Lawrence of Arabia
12. Bernstein : The Great Escape
13. Jarre : Doctor Zhivago
14. Barry : Born Free
15. Rota : The Godfather
16. Barry : Out of Africa
17. Williams : Raiders of the Lost Ark
18. Badelt : Pirates of the Caribbean.

I have to confess that my memories of the performance are rather overshadowed by thoughts of the two young women sitting in front of us, obviously lovers. One had short hair and wore flat-heeled boots, while the other had long blonde hair, short skirt, high heels and very boldly patterned tights. We wish them all the best !

Labels: Concerts

This evening we saw the Mike Piggott trio with Nils Solberg and Peter Morgan, at The Hub in Verwood, Dorset. Once again this group provided fine swinging jazz with every number enjoyable and played differently from the average performance. Our favourites were:
1. Nuages, composed by Django Reinhardt, who plays it on this link.
2. Exactly Like You, composed in 1930 by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Dorothy Fields and performed on this link by Stephane Grapelli and Django Reinhardt. Mike played it in the style of Joe Venuti with a section using all four strings on the violin simultaneously.
3. Peter's feature with Nils A Tisket A Tasket, composed in 1938 by Al Feldman and Ella Fitzgerald and performed on this link by the Oscar Peterson quartet. Peter played it in the style of Slam Stewart with bowing and humming.
4. Mike's Strohviolin feature A Kiss To Build A Dream On, composed by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby and Oscar Hammerstein II in 1935 and performed on this link by Louis Armstrong.

The musicians recognised us as soon as we entered the room and gave us a warm welcome. The 'Hub' was a new experience for them and us; we liked the table arrangement and the food & drink. The audience seemed rather abstemious with no rush for the bar during the interval. Not what we are used to !

Labels: Jazz

This evening we returned to Brian White's Magna jazz band's new venue, The Manor in Old Malden (pictured). This will be a weekly gig from now on. We started with a burger for me and sausages for Selina, washed down with a bottle of Merlot. Good value by the standards of the area.
Ken Reece was on cornet again and Alan Dandy (keyboard) was back from his holiday.
Our favourite numbers were as follows:
1. Memories of You, composed in 1930 by Eubie Blake with lyrics by Andy Razaf. The link is to Louis Armstrong playing and singing, accompanied by vibes.
2. Goose Pimples, written by Henderson and Trent. This link is to the Bix Beiderbecke version; who else ?
3. Sorry, written by banjo player Howdy Quicksell. This link just has to be to the Bix Beiderbecke version again.
4. Whispering, words and music by the brothers Malvin and John Schonberger, and originally recorded on August 23, 1920 by Paul Whiteman and his Orchestra. The link is to the Chet Atkins 'Workshop' recording that I bought for my father in the early sixties and inherited in 1988.
5. St Louis Blues, which I believe really WAS written by W C Handy, as distinct from plagiarised. The link is to the great Bessie Smith, taking it at the right pace, i.e. slowly. I have a poor recording on cassette tape of this number performed as a duet between Chris Barber (trombone) and Roger Hill (guitar). Roger's solo section is the finest piece of blues guitar playing I have ever heard. I would love to have a good digital version.

Brian White wants Selina to stop nagging him. He has to be nagged or he takes no notice !

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 Berry (keyboard), Mick Durell (bass guitar) and Don Cook (drums). The guests were John Lang (trombone) and 'Alan' (vocal, pictured with Don). Our favourite numbers were:
1) Dream a Little Dream of Me, composed in 1931 by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt with lyrics by Gus Kahn. The link is to the famous vocal by 'Mama' Cass Elliot.
2) Alan Berry's solo feature The Night We called It a Day, written in 1941 by Matt Dennis with lyrics by Tom Adair. The link is to the modern version by Diana Krall.
3) John Lang's second guest number Mood Indigo composed in 1930 by Barney Bigard, who plays it on this link.
4) 'Alan's' one vocal feature There'll Never Be Another You composed in 1942 by Harry Warren with lyrics by Mack Gordon for the Twentieth Century Fox musical Iceland starring Sonja Henie. The link is to a country & western version by Connie Smith.

When John Barnes played and sang "The Gypsy", he mentioned that Dorothy Squires was said to be "a bit of a handful". This was misinterpreted by some of the audience.

Labels: Jazz