Reeds:- Alhard Zwart, Rod Radoux, David Lukacs
Cornet & MD:- Louis Lanzing, Cornet & Leader:- Robert Duis
Trombone:- Attila Korb
Piano:- Jan van der Woord
Banjo:- Wil van Schaik
Tuba:- Patrick Weeghmans
Drums:- Stef Geurts
Limehouse Jazzband is on tour in the UK and I was happy that they agreed that Pershore would be one of the venues to visit. It was a first for us to have so many people on stage (10) and although a little short of space it worked OK. Only a few in the audience had heard the band before which must be another first and what a turn out there was too. Limehouse Jazzband are a traditional band who play their own organised musical arrangements of the 1920’s/30’s influenced by the likes of Bix Beiderbecke, Fletcher Henderson, McKinney’s Cotton Pickers (Don Redman) and Duke Ellington. Robert Duis praised our organisation of the jazz club before playing the first number which unfortunately I did not record as I was still taking the money on the door from the queue of regular jazzers and lots of new faces too!
However Davenport Blues a Bix Beiderbecke tune was next with lovely melodic harmonies and a piano solo and this was followed by a Fletcher Henderson number again not noted. Robert introduced the members of the band to us and asked whether anyone could tell which person was not from Holland. Someone shouted out “the one in black” which received much applause as all the band were dressed in black! Robert liked this original response so much that he gave away a band CD. Henderson Stomp an upbeat number was next with piano solo and followed by Gee Baby Ain’t I Good To You changing the tempo and the first vocal. Robert said how difficult it is to get 10 people together for a tour of UK because of various reasons including jobs and wives! His wife couldn't find Pershore on the map! Ring Dem Bells gave solos from the front line and this also included a beautiful clarinet solo. A great ending with drums and cowbell. Blue River a 1920’s number written by Joseph Myer and arranged by Attila was a number they had talked about on the way over to UK and rehearsed in a pub in Dover. This was the 5th time they had played it and it went well. A lovely arrangement. Stampede a beautifully played and balanced number between reeds and the rhythm section was next and East St Louis (Toodle oo) with solo from Louis on cornet. Plain Dirt another arrangement by Attila from The Cotton Pickers music and I Need Lovin” with many solos and a superb drum solo from Stef. A great number to finish the first set with Borneo a medium paced number got the second set off to a good start and The Mooche written by Duke Ellington changed the tempo again but this was a special arrangement by reed player Robert Radoux. It contained melodic solos by clarinet and trombone and had a haunting cornet ending. Robert said this is one of the most interesting pieces in their repertoire and definitely an excellent number to listen to. Shanghai Shuffle a Fletcher Henderson and Louis Armstrong number was a very interesting arrangement with trombone solo backed by 3 saxes. (Mrs Duis knows where Shanghai is) From Monday On included a vocal from Attila and a slow version of Smoke Rings with piano intro was beautiful. Robert told us the band had visited Oslo just before the tragic shootings there and they would visit again next year to Copenhagen because no song called Oslo! What a way to introduce a tune! Copenhagen was a lovely up beat number and followed by Clementine which finally got some dancers onto the small space available. Bix fans were treated to a version of I’m Coming Virginia with trombone and cornet and followed by a feature for David and Attila which was Business in “F” a great fast number to finish the set with. After such a great evening they were still willing to offer us an encore, which was Three Blind Mice. An excellent evening from a well organised, highly professional band with great humour from leader Robert.
We wish them good luck with the rest of their UK tour and hope to see them again sometime.
Dank u wel – tot ziens (sorry ….. my only words of Dutch)
Maggie Smith
