Jazz on a Sunday: Washington Whirligig

Barnsley-based Washington Whirligig were back in Castleton on Sunday 10 January to collect a well-deserved award as Jazz on Sunday's Band of the Year for 2014-15.

Delighting another near capacity audience at The New Town National Club with a trademark mix of Chicago, Dixieland and Mainstream tunes that revisited the music of the renowned Alex Welsh bands of the Sixties and Seventies, were leader Dave Hepworth on reeds, Wil Robinson on trumpet and flugelhorn, Andy Bramall on banjo and guitar, Liz Hepworth on bass and Rob Cotterell on drums.

Reflecting the repertoires and arrangement styles of the classic Welsh lineups the audience heard (inter alia) 'Fidgety Feet', 'Oh Baby', 'June Night', a loudly acclaimed 'Dippermouth Blues' and Wil and Andy together up front for 'Dapper Dan'.

In keeping with long remembered Alex Welsh concerts came a handful (and more) of songs including Wil's 'Up A Lazy River', 'It Don't Mean A Thing', 'Serenade In Blue', and 'S'Wonderful'; Liz with 'On The Sunny Side Of the Street' and 'Georgia On My Mind'; Andy with 'This Year's Kisses' and, completing the package, solos from Wil on flugelhorn and 'Squeeze Me' and Dave on clarinet with 'I'm Confessing'.