New Orleans Heat

There is very little to add about New Orleans Heat that has not been said before. They are one of the best bands around, playing the music of New Orleans with power, style and panache with some excellent instrumental maestros.

An enthusiastic audience left full of the Christmas spirit after an evening of entertainment plus three sets of eight numbers gave superb value and every number was a highlight.

Gwyn Lewis on cornet is larger than life with a gravely voice which Armstrong would approve and fellow Welshman on reeds John Scantlebury a master of his trade. Newcomer on trombone Yorkshire’s Mike Taylor has integrated well, whilst lead on piano Loughborough’s Barry Grummett has a rhythm section of Derbyshire’s bass player, Harry Slater, Lincolnshire’s Tony Peatman on banjo and Gloucestershire’s Colin Bushell on drums – national or what?

The vocals of Lewis were very much to the fore – “Linger Awhile” with Scantlebury’s sax solo “Baby Face” with Grummett’s honky tonk piano and “St Louis Blues” was neatly arranged with the clarinet in the ascendancy, but closing the first set with “Away in a Manger”, though quite tasteful, didn’t really send out the right signals.

Into the second set with Lewis singing “Everywhere We Go” and “Somebody has taken my place”. A very unusual arrangement of “Margie” led by Taylor’s trombone and sung by Scantlebury was contrasted by the ebullient Lewis’ attach on “I Wish the I could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate”. Scantlebury finished the set with solos on clarinet with “He Touched Me” and on sax with “All of Me” vocalising and accompanied by Grummett’s driving piano.

The third offering ‘had’ to feature “Isle of Capri” to a samba beat and Scantlebury’s clarinet of “St Philip Street Breakdown” was played. Terrific!

“Because of You” had the gentle piano accompanying Lewis’ slow vocal, followed by his version with cornet mutations in “Walking in a Winter Wonderland”. You could almost see the snow!

“Mary Wore a Golden Chain” had the feel of skiffle with Lewis’ crescendo build up to Bushell’s drumming.

“Silent Night” softly performed with audience participation in almost reverence, I could see the Salvation Army in Town Square, before the visit ended with sax exuberance and cornet blasting as Lewis rocked out with his speciality “Rebecca Rebecca”.