John Ronnan
(trombone), Bill Smith (clarinet), John Reade (piano), Ian McCann (banjo &
guitar), Grant Taylor (drums), Dave Taylor (clarinet) & Dave Parr (bass).
(Review by Ray Robson).
Where better to feel full of the Christmas spirit than to
join the party with our friends at Boston Spa? We headed south full of
"joie de vivre" .....the high street awash with seasonal
decorations had us whistling carols as we entered the hall, with another
full house - many in Xmas hats & with balloons aplenty - tempting us to
dream of that nowadays elusive White Christmas.
A rousing start led us to Dallas
Blues then the classic Gatemouth before a spot of Riverside Blues. John Reade
on piano gave a virtuoso solo of the 1899 Kerry Mills’ Whistling Rufus, before the full band reconvened
to The Blues my Naughty
Sweetie Gives to me; Spencer Williams’ Tishomingo Blues & a very lively East Coast Trot. How to close the set? The
redoubtable Bill Smith sang us out with Down
by the Riverside
The Stompers are led by a superb front line, we knew Bill
Smith from great Savannah
Jazz Band nights but
John Ronnan was for us a newcomer (I'm sure he'll like that term !) who for us
was the star of the night. Dave Taylor is a recent "transfer market"
addition after the sad loss in April of Band Leader Tony Foulkes, but he
knitted seamlessly into the "team". Behind every good front line is a
solid rhythm section, no exception in the Stompers, a very tight performance by
John, Ian, Dave & "young" Grant.
A splendiferous sumptuous banquet of a buffet did the Spa
proud but left us feeling like seasonal birds must on the morning itself
....well done to all though, impeccable organisation as always!
I digress ...to the music ....High Society opened the second set with Saint James Infirmary Blues (ft
vcl JT) rousing the
crowd....no brollies indoors to partake in Bourbon
Street Parade unfortunately,
but singers aplenty as we joined with John Reade to singalonga Christmas ...the
old favourites tripping off the tongue ...White Christmas, Good King Wenceslas,
Silent Night, Winter Wonderland,
Rudolph, Jingle Bells then finally We
Wish you a Merry Christmas .....we were transported back to the family
Christmas's of yesteryear, the family singing around the piano ...memories are
indeed made of this as they say.
Still time for a few more, Doctor Jazz (a poignant
tribute to Tim who helped make Jazz at the Spa what its is today), a full band Jingle Bells then back to jazz with Avalon, Please don’t talk about us
when we are gone (sic), &
finally a splendid Tiger Rag drew a well deserved rousing
applause in gratitude of a great night.
Time to put away the hats - for now - & head into the
night, but with that warm feeling inside that nights like this provide you
with.
Ray Robson
Next Jazz at the Spa 4th Jan Savannah Jazz Band, then 11
Jan Kid Boyd Jazz Band, 18 Jan Tame Valley Stompers, 26 Jan Alan Barnes, John
Hallam & the Tom Kinkaid trio
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