The third and final Piano Professor of this year's Classic Jazz Party, Martin Litton, opened Sunday evening's programme. From the elegance of pianist Litton to guitarist Martin Wheatley's String Bands extravaganza. Wheatley's selection of jazz, blues and country called upon the services of Emma Fisk (violin), fellow guitarists Spats Langham (with vocals) and Curtis Volp. All three of the six stringers brought along a banjo for the occasion, Malcolm Sked making do with tuba and string bass. An entertaining hour.
At the beginning of the weekend, several astute punters picked out Félix Hunot's Irving Berlin in the Jazz Age as one of the unmissable sets. Our Frenchman played guitar, banjo and sang. Backed by a swinging band - Rico Tomasso (trumpet), Lars Frank (reeds), Martin Litton at the Boston, Harry Evans (tuba, string bass) and drummer Nick Ball - sure enough, this was a winning set.
Ethel Waters featured the CJP's star vocalist Nicolle Rochelle. Participating in numerous sets across the weekend, Ms. Rochelle was never less than excellent. Colin Hancock (cornet) led the session, Rochelle sang early jazz and blues numbers, supported by a fine ensemble, including Andrew Oliver (piano), Félix Hunot (banjo, guitar) and CJP favourite, drummer Nick Ward.
To bring the curtain down on the 2025 Classic Jazz Party, some of the weekend's big guns took to the stage one last time. The Dorsey Brothers - Fine and Dandy comprised bandleader Michael McQuaid (reeds and vocals), the three trumpets of Joe Boga, Lewis Taylor and Mike Davis (the latter also contributing trombone and vocals), Lorenzo Baldasso and Natalie Scharf (reeds), plus David Horniblow wrestling with the bass sax, Emma Fisk (violin), Curtis Volp playing banjo and guitar, Phil Rutherford (tuba) and drummer Josh Duffee.
Bandleader McQuaid had been working on the charts for twelve months (plus charts for several others sets!) and it must have given the Jazz Party co-MD immense satisfaction to see - and hear - it come together on the night. A tremendous finale to another Classic Jazz Party.
Finale? Not quite! There was the small matter of a third and final late night jam session. The Village Hotel's Pub & Grill rapidly became standing room only - don't these people ever sleep?! Leading the Last Hurrah, TJ Müller. A St Louis, Missouri resident, TJ was clearly enjoying his return home (our trombonist has been living in the States for something like fifteen years).
The jam session band - CJP co-MDs Colin Hancock, Michael McQuaid, plus David Horniblow (bass sax), Andrew Oliver at the upright, Spats Langham stringing and singing, Nick Ward (drums) - appeared to be demob happy. Ties loosened, beers flowing, it was time to party! The list of those sitting in grew and grew. The list included Banu Gibson (of Crescent City fame), Peter Ho, piano (from Chicago), GRAMMY-nominated bassist Jen Hodges (NYC), from Germany, Michael 'Swanny' Laing, vocalist Ali Affleck (Edinburgh), Jack Calloway (clarinet, Bristol), Félix Hunot (guitar and banjo), Cia Tomasso, vocals (Liverpool), Henry Lemaire (string bass, France), Young Talent Award winner Steve Osorio (trombone) and Nicolle Rochelle. Many others sat in, too many to mention. The beers flowed, the jazz swinging like nobody's business. It was close on two in the morning.
The 2026 Classic Jazz Party is set for 6-8 November. Book now! Russell
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