Vieux Carré Jazzmen @ The Millstone.

Fred Rowe (tpt.vcl); Barry Soulsby (clt/vcl); Laurence McBriarty (tmb); Brian Bennett (bjo/vcl); Brian Sibbald (bs); Fred Thompson (dms.vcl).
(Review by Lance.)

It was good to hear the VCJ again - it had been a while - and I'm pleased to say that the slings and arrow that are occasionally thrown their way have not affected their enthusiasm and indeed skill. They have never strayed away from the dictum that jazz is entertainment and entertain they certainly do.

As I bellied up to the bar to order a pint of Doom Bar Bitter - one of several real ales on offer - the band were looking back at the old Skiffle days with Worried Man Blues. Indeed with the recent drastic cuts in Arts Council Funding there must be a lot of worried men and women singing a worried song - let's hope they won't be worried long!

Fortunately, bands such as the VCJ aren't in the funding scuffle - their music is much too happy for that!

Fred Rowe sang of Miss Magnolia's Wedding Day, Fred Thompson crooned Buddy Bolden's Blues and I ordered a Cumberland Feast. This comprised; Cumberland Sausage, Fried Egg, Chips, Peas and a Boat of Gravy. 

Milenberg Joys, I Get The Blues When It Rains - Soulsby and Rowe doing the vocal - Rowe made like The Schnozz (Jimmy Durante - ask your ma!) on Inka, Dinka Do (They don't write them like that any more!) and I anticipated my Cumberland Feast.

The set finished with Soulsby singing Ace in the Hole and I licked my lips at the thought of my Cumberland Feast. I wondered if they'd had to send to Cumbria for it?

The barmaid approached - she had an apologetic look on her face.

There'd been a breakdown in communication and my order had been lost. However, it was now being processed (cooked) and would I like a drink on the house?

I said that I thought that a splendid idea and another pint of Doom Bar more than made up for the wait and I have to say that when the Feast did arrive it was as fine a piece of Cumberland Sausage that I have tasted outside of Cumbria. Full marks for food and customer relations.

Back on the bandstand Soulsby was singing Everybody Loves My Baby (was it Billy Harper or Eddie Thompson? who used to call it - Every Baby Loves My Body?), he then played Stranger on the Shore - it was a request, like The Saints, it always is!

Fred Thompson sang At The Jazz Band Ball - substituting his own words for Johnny Mercer's! They were ok. Barry and Fred sang Shine and Ann Alex remarked on how subversive the lyrics were!

I guess you have to treat them in the context of the time when the song was written (1910)

Fred Rowe sang I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover which he'd re-written as I'm Getting Over The Worst Hangover That I've Ever Had Before! Good Time Jazz - no other way to describe it and, although I've concentrated on the vocals the solos and the ensembles were first class.

A visit to The Millstone is worthwhile.

Lance.