Rico Tomasso (trumpet, vocals), Mike Henry, Lewis Taylor (trumpets); Richard Exall, Alan Barnes, Alex Clarke (reeds); Alistair Allan (trombone, vocals), Gordon Campbell (trombones); Martin Litton (piano); Spats Langham (guitar, banjo, vocals); Malcolm Sked (double bass); Richard Pite (drums) + Cia Tomasso (vocals)
A large turn out at St Augustine's, no surprise at all. As Darlington New Orleans Jazz Club concerts go, this afternoon's first visit to Larchfield Street by the Midnite Follies Orchestra is about as big as it gets. Fully sixty minutes before the down beat they were streaming into the room. Thirty minutes before the start just about every seat was occupied and still they were coming.
Twenties' Harlem, thirties Harlem, the Cotton Club. Duke Ellington (Doin' the Frog), Cab Calloway (Stomp No.1), Luis Russell (Ease on Down), each and every number, ensemble and soloists, this was the business! Ellington featured prominently, as did Louis Armstrong (Rico Tomasso, Mahogany Hall Stomp). Hearing Rockin' in Rhythm and many other classic numbers played by these guys was a real treat.
East St Louis Toodle-Oo (Mike 'Magic' Henry as Bubber Miley), Thanks a Million (Tomasso as Armstrong, convincingly so), a wonderfully sensitive Mood Indigo, a scorching Old Man Blues, it doesn't get any better than this.
The Midnite Follies invited special guest singer Cia Tomasso to join the band for one number. As recorded by Ivie Anderson, C. Tomasso more than impressed singing Stormy Weather. Fabulous.
To close two sets of top class jazz, the Midnite Follies went out on It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing. It sure don't. Russell
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