Tame Valley Stompers back with trademark New Orleans oriented standards

Roger Wimpenny, The Thame Valley Stompers

Doubtless miffed at again missing out on Jazz On A Sunday's Band of the Year award, The Tame Valley Stompers were back at The New Town National Club in Castleton with their trademark New Orleans oriented offering of standards.

Led by Norman Pennington on drums, with Roger Wimpenny on trumpet, Paul Broomhead on reeds, Terry Brunt on trombone, John Gordon on banjo and guitar and Pete Smith on bass had clearly decided this time round to make an early run at the 2015/16 title or else, in the manner of their footballing heroes, to get their retaliation in early.

Pieces included 'Bourbon Street Parade', 'Bogalusa Strut' and 'The Original Dixieland One Step', blues of the 'Pe-dido Street' and 'Savoy' persuasions, gospel ones ('Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho'), “cross-over” numbers from other musical genres ('Route 66', 'Joe Avery's Piece' and 'Getting Sentimental Over You'), vaudeville songs (the apparently risque 'You've Got The Right Key') and, topping it off, their accustomed 'party pieces' - from Paul a lung-bursting 'St Philip Street Breakdown', from Terry a mournful 'St James' Infirmary Blues' and from John on guitar a masterly 'I Can't Give You Anything But Love'.