Bourbon Street Roof Raisers

Bolton’s Bourbon Street Roof Raisers, led by Big John Percival’s powerful presence on trumpet, entertained the ever increasing numbers who are returning to enjoy the jazz and ambience at a venue which breeds warmth and friendship.

All the bands love it and ask that we ‘keep them in mind for the future’. That is not to say the financial stability has been achieved, but I am optimistic that we are moving in the right direction.

After a slow start from the seven piece outfit, we were treated to some own band arrangements of numbers like Bechet’s 'Fish Seller', 'Come Back Sweet Papa' and the collaboration of Ted Watton’s clarinet and Alan Riley’s guitar in a very different 'New Orleans'.

Percival sang most of the vocals and 'Dinah' featured Lyndsay Taylor’s trombone. Armstrong’s 'Black and Blue' was nicely crafted with muted trumpet and soft clarinet and Watton’s solo of 'Swing That Music' brought an interlude from the drums of John Parrott.
The Helicon (Brass Bass) of Dave Haslam complemented the trumpet led popular 'Chimes Blues' in the Bourbon Street's format.

A tribute medley for the late Jim Wilkes 'Life Is For Living' got the second set in motion, which featured much power trumpet play from Percival with 'Jazz Band Ball' and vocals 'When You’re Smiling' and 'Annabel Lee', with muted input in the build up of 'Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen'.

'My Blue Heaven' featured clarinet with banjo, brass bass and a quirky piece of trombone and Watton’s solo led 'Mr Jelly Lord' with Helicon complementing Taylor’s sliding trombone.

Inter-connecting instrumentals with solo clarinet and Haslam’s Helicon gave 'China Boy' a temperance seven sound and that was before winning the raffle's bottle of whisky!

Into the final straight, and the vocals and trumpet of Percival blasted away at 'Bourbon Street' and 'Five Foot Two Eyes of Blue' slowing down with trombone solo 'Am I Blue' with Riley’s guitar, before all hell let loose with 'Ice Cream' firing on all cylinders and 'Jungle Book' with Taylor on animal noises and shrieks from trumpet and trombone.

All the time quiet man on string bass Geoff Hague fused the rhythm section almost unnoticed. A nice arrangement of 'Royal Garden Blues' completed the evening with another chance for Parrott on drums and a power driven front line.