
Johnny Hodges, small group, early
fifties, full house...not quite. The word was that some of Keswick Jazz and
Blues Festival's patrons thought it dangerously modern and went off looking for
a banjo. So, Southey St Church was busy but not bursting at the seams. The
ubiquitous Alan Barnes led an all-star line-up in what would prove to be a wonderful celebration of Ellington's alto saxophonist affectionately known as
'Jeep' or 'Rabbit'.

Frisky - a cue for
Barnes: Do you remember feeling like that? - featured Ian
Bateman's classy trombone playing and Richard Exall's commanding tenor sax.
Barnes introduced the rhythm section: A marvellous swinging drummer -
Tom Gordon...and, playing fine walking lines - Bruce Rollo, and at the piano -
the world class Brian Kellock. To AB's left, Jamie Brownfield. What a great
trumpet player and, what's more, he's of the new generation. Barnes himself
featured on Passion Flower, Exall featured with the rhythm section
on In a Sentimental Mood (superb) and two hours later the
Hodges' tribute went out cookin' on The Jeep is Jumpin' and Shady
Side of the Street with not a banjo in sight.
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