Five In A Bar

It was after the Lord Mayor’s show for the visit of Mike Lovell’s 'Five in a Bar'. Despite knowing of the unavailability of fifteen regulars and the fact that the final hours of the Ryder Cup was being beamed to the golf fans from Kentucky, the attendance was disappointing, and whilst the customers ‘are always right’, a jazz club, or any other organisation, will always find it difficult not knowing the ‘pick and choose whims’ of the prospective audiences.

Maybe having to fill in the slot at short notice following the return to Castleton was the main problem but Lovell played with his usual enthusiasm and panache and it is hoped that the hall will be buzzing next Sunday 5 October for the visit of the popular Tame Valley Stompers.

A short first set had banjo maestro Chris House in full voice with 'I Found A New Baby', 'Aint Misbehavin', 'Sunday' and 'Cake Walking Babies', complemented with Willie Entwistle’s clarinet interludes, while Lovell’s trombone led the way with 'Basin Street Blues'.

Kenny Ball’s hit 'Nagasaki' got the gig back up and running, House accompanied himself with 'Someday Sweetheart', and a neat version of 'Blue Room' interspersed with Entwistle’s alto sax. Drummer Pete Eddowes on the bones with Entwistle’s Penny Whistle produced the atmospheric sounds to Chris Barber’s “Whistling Rufus”.

Variety was certainly the norm with an alto sax solo of 'Old Fashioned Love'. Lovell’s vocal 'I’m Crazy About My Baby' and featured trombone in 'Algiers Strutt'.

House presented his novelty composition 'Mustapha The Camel' and finished the set singing 'I’ve Got A Feeling I’m Falling'.

Into the run in with 'At The Jazz Band Ball' contrasting with House’s dreamy 'It’s Only A Paper Moon'.

A strident 'Dark Town Strutters Ball' featured Ed Dowes’ washboard and Entwistle's penny whistle. 'Sultry Serenade' had Lovell’s trombone in full flow, and ‘the difference is the difference’ with the Orleans 'Louisiana' then a smooth version of Ellington’s 'Mood Indigo'.

House ‘brazenly’ told the ensemble 'You’re Driving Me Crazy' finger picking his own arrangement and the band signed off with 'After You’ve Gone' and then they were!