
(Review by Russell)
The Mr Men returned
one year on from their last get together at Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club. As
usual St Augustine's on Larchfield Street catered to a large crowd of
dyed-in-the-wool classic jazz era enthusiasts. Today's lunchtime session led by
principals Jeff Barnhart and John Hallam would stray into early swing territory
without testing the resolve of the faithful.

The ebullient
American piano virtuoso Barnhart indicated the second set would begin with a
dream sequence - Dream Man (Hallam on baritone), You
Stepped Out of a Dream (Hallam clarinet) culminating in fours then
twos, followed by a dream version of Ain't Misbehavin' (an
audience request). What's the betting that if Barnhart met Fats Waller they'd
be best pals?!
Our virtuoso
six-stringer Mr Keith Stephen switched to his four string banjo for a rollicking Swing
That Music - Darlington's faithful loved it! A ballad was called for,
we got A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square but it wasn't
long before Stephen upped the tempo once more when calling Sweet
Georgia Brown (in F).
Ellington's Ring
Dem Bells sizzled and in no time it was time to go, with, as Barnhart
observed, a song for our times - Between the Devil and the Deep Blue
Sea. It had been yet another winning afternoon at Darlington New Orleans
Jazz Club. Jeff Barnhart returns in a fortnight (Saturday 21) with Reel 2 of
his silent movie-piano accompaniment show. Curtain up at
12:30pm.
Russell
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