Maine Street Jazzmen voted Band of the Year by Rochdale Jazz Club

After being given an enthusiastic reception by the members of Rochdale Jazz Club, when the Maine Street Jazzmen played their first gig at the club in July 2012, the band were subsequently awarded the title of "Band of the Year 2012.".

Rochdale Jazz Club operates on a Sunday evening and features different jazz bands from all over the country. In 2012 a total of 37 bands played the venue. Each year the club members are given the opportunity to vote for their “Band Of The Year” and the best band is awarded the “Band Of The Year”  trophy.

The trophy is dedicated to the memory of a long standing Rochdale Jazz Club member, Harry Cameron who passed away in January 2009. The organising committee decided to commemorate Harry’s life with the awarding of a trophy for the band of the year chosen by a ballot of the regulars of Jazz on a Sunday. The first winners of the trophy in 2009 were the Tame Valley Stompers, with runners up New Orleans Heat, and the Les Bull Band from Cumbria.

At the end of the  2012 season,  the club members voted the Maine Street Jazzmen as their “Band of the Year “ for 2012.  The band were subsequently booked to return to the club in January 2013 when they would have been presented with the trophy, however the gig had to be cancelled due to the adverse weather conditions and re-scheduled for July.

However, on Tuesday (March 19) David Ball, a member of Rochdale Jazz Club, travelled up to the band’s Tuesday residency at the British Legion Club, Jesmond, and duly presented the band with their trophy. The program for the presentation night included a selection of jazz classics such as; Savoy Blues, Hindustan, Chinatown, Tiger Rag, Swing That Music, Take Me Back To New Orleans, At The Jazz Band Ball, and Buddy’s Habits. While Olive sang  It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t got that Swing, Make Me a Pallet on the Floor, and How’d ya Like To Love Me. Photographic coverage of the event was provided by one of the band’s regular supporters, Bill Halliday.

The Maine Street Jazzmen  play an entertaining brand of Dixieland jazz, using the traditional line up of Trombone, Trumpet, Clarinet, Piano, Double Bass, and Drums.

The band features some experienced Tyneside jazz musicians, led by trombonist Herbie Hudson, founder member of the original River City Jazzmen, and are proving to be popular wherever they play. They have several regular Tyneside gigs, Thursday evenings at the Marquis of Granby, Sunniside, and also a monthly gig at Seaton Sluice Club, as well as the Tuesday gig at Jesmond British Legion.  The band also play jazz club dates, and occasional festival dates, including the Edinburgh Jazz Festival in 2012!

Further details can be found on the band’s website www.mainestreetjazzmen.com.

Photos.

Alan.