The Old Fashioned Love Band

Reporter: Tony Sheldon
Date online: 12 June 2008

A well known advert states 'It looks good, it tastes good and by golly it does you good' and for those Jazzers who came to Castleton this week it was an evening of musical excellence which will remain long in their memories.

This first visit by the recently re-formed potteries ensemble The Old Fashioned Love Band provided an experience that would be difficult to beat in musical perfection.

Dressed in black shirts and trousers with red and dark blue ties, which they must have 'nicked' from the AC Milan dressing rooms. They looked impressive and with superb arrangements and musicians of the highest calibre their performance was as impressive as I have seen for many a day. It is difficult to superlative the superlative but nobody wanted the evening to end!

The band was led by trumpeter Mel Hill, an excellent communicator with words and music. Brilliant clarinettist Eric Newton's power play intertwined with sensitivity shone through on 'Burgundy Street Blues and 'St Philip Street Breakdown'. Trombonist Mike Pembroke (who also plays with the Smoky City) completed an accomplished team with great solos and vocals with 'Shine', 'Hello Central', 'Dinah', and 'Sheikh of Araby'. The vocals were shared with Hill excelling with 'Way Down Yonder', 'Old Rockin' Chair', 'Tishamingo Blues', 'Some Sweet Day' and 'Move The Body Over'.

Guitar and banjo virtuoso Jake Reeves vocalised on 'Rhythm and Romance', 'From Monday On' and 'Sandman' in duo with Newton's sensitive clarinet.

Rhythm sections sometimes just complement the front line but this band has blended it's fine musicians into an integral unit with the bass expertise of Pedro Robinson slipping perfectly into solo cameos on 'Wrap Your Troubles In Dreams', 'Dinah' and 'Tishamingo Blues'. Drummer Dave Timmis stickwork completed this exciting unit without any solo opportunities to shine.

I could go on and on - 'Isle of Capri', one of my favourites: 'Too Busy' and a finale of a Chris Barber early number: 'Salty Dog' sung by the 'Mel'vellous Hill but of course then it was all over.

The Old Fashioned Love Band
November 2002