Saturday afternoon - Nov.2
(Review by Russell/Photos courtesy of Jonathan Holmes and David De La
Haye - link)
The Village Hotel's packed function
room settled down for an afternoon of the niche, the obscure and the zany. A
goofus, a bass saxophone, a violin, a washboard, a cigar box and a xylophone -
your everyday selection of musical instruments one would expect to hear at a
gig. Only at the Classic Jazz Party!
The Goofus Five set referenced the
'goofus'. The rarest of instruments wasn’t actually featured on stage,
nevertheless set leader Mike Davis (trumpet) ensured the
twenty first century's Adrian Rollini, aka David Horniblow, took
centre stage grappling with the big beast bass saxophone.
The versatile David Horniblow,
making his CJP bow, picked up his clarinet to lead Clarinet Washboard
Bands. To call this session 'hot' wouldn't do justice to a sizzling half
hour. Jimmy O'Bryant's Washboard Band the inspiration, the inclusion of Nicholas
Ball playing washboard almost stole the show. Later in the afternoon
Ball would do just that.
Spats Langham knows his banjo
players. At this year's CJP he turned the spotlight on The Unknown
Harry Reser. The American, an acknowledged virtuoso, left a body of work
documented on twenties' recording sessions through to prestigious NYC theatre
engagements some four decades later. It was Reser's early years to which
Langham turned, assisted by fellow string players Emma Fisk,
violin, Martin Wheatley, banjo, guitar, and the elegant
pianist Martin Litton.
Claus Jacobi (pictured relaxing
during a rehearsal session) is one of the key figures at the CJP. In addition
to performing on stage the German reedsman works year round with others putting
the programme together for the following year (Jacobi and co are already
planning 2020's CJP!). Hear me talkin' to ya made good use of
Jacobi's transcriptions and arrangements of Don Redman's charts for
Louis Armstrong's 'Savoy Ballroom Five' period. Enrico Tomasso -
who else? - was on the session, as was American vocalist Joan Viskant.
Duke Heitger presented 'music in
the vein of the Sidney Bechet-Muggsy Spanier 'Big Four''. The American
trumpeter formed an alliance with three superb French musicians - Stéphane
Gillot, reeds, Félix Hunot, guitar and string bass
maestro Henry Lemaire - and wasted no time saying: We're
gonna do a hot one. And 'hot' was the word as the quartet launched
into That's a Plenty. This was superb ensemble work at an
impossibly hot tempo. Sweet Lorraine took it down and, with
time pressing, Heitger said they'd play a few hot choruses of China Boy.
And boy, it was hot, hot, hot!
In a packed afternoon session Michael
McQuaid, another influential behind-the-scenes figure, presented Washboard
Rhythm Kings. The London based Aussie made no bones about it - little is
known about the NYC musicians active in the thirties. A lack of biographical
information didn't prevent McQuaid from producing a marvellous set which
featured Nick Ball on washboard. Tiger Rag roared
or, to be precise, Mr Ball literally roared and roared! Excellent!
To close an exhausting session Josh
Duffee delegated drum duties to the redoubtable Nick Ward enabling
the popular American to present Teddy Brown & his Cafe de Paris
Band. Anything Duffee doesn't know about vibraphonist Teddy Brown isn't
worth knowing. The extent of Duffee's research has landed him in prison - no
word of a lie! If you're unfamiliar with the story you'll have to ask him about
it at next year's Classic Jazz Party!
Duffee stood on the floor in front of
a stage full of fellow musicians to play xylophone just as Brown did in the
Cafe de Paris circa 1927. Duffee's anecdotes painted a picture of his rotund
(that's being kind, Brown weighed in at 400lbs!) subject. Musically
spectacular, visually effective, Duffee's orchestra handled the exacting charts
with aplomb, exemplified by Emma Fisk's fine violin playing
on Ain't She Sweet? Duffee expressed his gratitude for being
able to present the music of Teddy Brown here in the north east of England,
saying back home in America performance opportunities are few and far. Song
of Happiness brought to a close a fascinating set. More Teddy Brown
next year? Don't bet against it.
Russell.
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