JeremyHugget (rds)
Graham Treverton (tpt, cnt)
Ron Milford (tbn)
John Whitlock (bjo, gtr)
Tony Mann (bs)
Ron Berry (dms)
The smartly dressed band took to the stage and were introduced to the capacity audience as they each took a chorus in Washinton and Lee Swing - and swing was indeed the word with a driving beat, avoiding the jigging up and down rhythm which some trad bands annoyingly generate. By the second number, Goin’ to New Orleans, dancers had already been enticed on to the floor and this band of relatively low average age(compared to some we’ve had here!) continued with Ron’s vocal over alto sax and trumpet riffs to give an impressive polish to Shine.
Tunes like Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Baby Face with their controlled ensemble work, still with room for collective improvisation, made for the true sound of classic jazz but Moose March with Tony playing his brass bass and again Just a Closer Walk with Thee evoked more than a hint of bands marching through the streets of New Orleans. Jeremy’s almost vibrato less soprano sax added a darker tone to a very swinging St Louis Blues and the same instrument breezed along happily on Hiawatha Rag in contrast to a rather rasping alto sax for My Memphis Baby.
There were quieter moments - Lily of the Valley where Jeremy’s clarinet showed a certain deference to the George Lewis version and a gentle Bye Bye Blues with John’s guitar leading the rock steady rhythm under muted cornet from Graham. Looking round the club during Let’s be Fair and Square with Mills Brothers guitar intro, muted cornet and bucket muted trombone, there was an atmosphere of rapt attention to this charming rendition.
But, for the dancers, there was plenty of up tempo in the offing with a freewheeling Climax Rag giving Ron a chance for a drum solo, a banjo lead in on Sweet Georgia Brown and the obvious enjoyment of the musicians playing Rollin’ Round the World (remember Billy Cotton?)
The band wished us goodnight as they played out with Please Don’t Talk About Me (when I’m gone) but after an evening of first class entertainment from this very professional group from the West Country, of course we talked about them for quite a few days afterwards.
Peter Farrall
