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The Savannah Jazz Band
15 March 2025

I’m sure I wasn’t the only person to think that with the enforced retirement of Savannah drummer and band leader John Meehan in late 2022, that the band would be no more. John’s driving-style of drumming defined the band – how could they continue after 45 successful years on the road?

Video: Geoff Mullett

Well, they have! Saturday was their third visit in the past three years. They were welcomed by a 70+ audience, no doubt swollen by the ‘free entry’, as the evening was funded by the Ideas and Innovation Fund distributed by the Lincolnshire Community Foundation. This funding is enabling the club to put on three free jazz concerts and produce publicity such as improving the signage outside the club, producing posters/flyers etc.

Savannah’s lineup on Saturday was Brian Ellis – trombone & piano; Richard Church – trumpet; Chris Marney – banjo; Graham Smith – drums; Roger Bird – tenor sax & clarinet, and Ken Each – double bass. Ken was depping for regular bassist Tony Pollitt, who was unwell. Their style has certainly changed since John Meehan’s day, but they are still a formidable New Orleans band with a vast repertoire, and on Saturday we were treated to marches, hymns, rags and blues, with the usually sombre ‘St James Infirmary Blues’ sounding somewhat different when sung by Roger Bird, who drifted into a broad Lancashire accent and added extra verses!

The Gettysburg March was another favourite played, as was Over the Waves, and the band ended the evening as they always do, with Going Home. And so we did – a very happy bunch! A 30-minute video is on the Club's YouTube channel HERE

Geoff M

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Cindy Orme's Jazz Pack
8 March 2025

This event followed a club EGM, which helped to ensure another excellent turnout. Having recently introduced her new Trad Band to the club, on this occasion Cindy reverted to her more familiar style.

The set list featured numbers by composers such as Charlie Mingus and Thelonious Monk, the latter being the second-most-recorded jazz composer after Duke Ellington. ‘His compositions and improvisations feature dissonances and angular melodic twists, often using flat ninths, flat fifths, unexpected chromatic notes together, low bass notes and stride, and fast whole tone runs, combining a highly percussive attack with abrupt, dramatic use of switched key releases, silences, and hesitations.’ (Wikipedia). So now you know!

Tunes included Tenor Madness, Don't Get Around Much Anymore, Cold Duck Time, My Romance, and Sweet Georgia Brown, whilst the first set ended with a rendition of Sunny Side of the Street by guest vocalist Bill Threapleton.

Video: Geoff Mullett

Minutes of the EGM will be circulated in due course but the main outcome was the approval of the Motion to ratify the committee’s decision that the club should become a Community Interest Company (CIC) registered at Companies House. My thanks to all those who attended the meeting and gave their support to the Motion.

Our next event, on Saturday 15 March, is the free concert featuring the Savannah Jazz Band, for which all places have been taken. There are then just 3 weeks to the Tad Newton concert at Louth Town Hall so, if you have not already done so, please check out and use the booking details elsewhere on this page. It is important to the future of the club and the funding of our plans that we attract as high an attendance as possible, thus demonstrating that trad and jive are still alive here in North Lincolnshire.

Happy listening.

ND

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Hot Flamingo
1 March 2025

Photo: Grahame Quigley

On Saturday 1st March 2025 the Jazz Club was entertained by the amazing Hot Flamingo, a Django Reinhardt inspired collective featuring Dutch accordionist (and vocalist) Leen De Keijzer, Charlie Fothergill on clarinet, Xenia Porteous on violin, Kate Whittaker on double bass, JD England and Karl Joensen on guitar, with vocals by Molly Amour.

Yet another sellout audience gave this sophisticated band a very warm welcome and then sat back as if to experience a Parisian style cafe, picturing much, much warmer weather, whilst sampling a glass of chilled wine.

Kicking off the evening with September In The Rain, and moving on very quickly to the excellent No Moon At All, which gave the band a chance to show their wonderful individual talents with some beautiful solos, then progressing onto, among others, Brazil, and then a beautiful ballad called Body And Soul. The first set finished with a few classical Django Reinhardt pieces including his most famous (and Lyn's and my favourite) Minor Swing; at many a dance we have been to over the years, the first few cords of this amazing tune would just fill the floor with Balboa dancers!

Photo: Grahame Quigley

The second set included more superb tunes, including Gershwin's The Man I Love, Duke Ellington's Flamingo, Fats Waller's Honeysuckle Rose and the enchanting Time On My Hands to name but few.

A great evening was had by all, and these superb musicians were rewarded with rapturous applause at the end of the night from a hugely entertained audience, myself included.

In the meantime, happy listening.

GQ

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Cindy Orme's Trad Jazz Band
22 February 2025

Photo: John Banister

On Saturday 22 February 2025 we were pleased to be the venue for the launch of Lincoln-based Cindy Orme’s Trad Jazz Band, featuring Paul Murrell (lead clarinet), Richard Pustelnik (trumpet), Cindy Orme (tenor sax), Stuart Macdonald (baritone sax), Matt Callingham (piano), Tom Silver (bass guitar), and Kev Rogers (drums).

A Bumper audience gave the band a warm welcome and the first set consisted very much of old standards such as Jazz Band Ball, Twelfth Street Rag, South Rampart Street Parade, Clarinet Marmalade, Tin Roof Blues, and Alexander’s Ragtime Band.

The second set included more old favourites, such as Tiger Rag and High Society, as well more recent numbers like Chicago, When You Wore a Tulip, and Hello Dolly.

Photo: John Banister

The band is to be congratulated on such a competent performance after so little preparation time, the somewhat unusual front-line combination working surprisingly well in ensemble and featuring some polished solos. It is good to see the emergence of a group that shares our love of New Orleans jazz, and we should give them every encouragement to seek similar venues and extend their vintage repertoire. The curtain call applause certainly suggests that a future return visit is something that would be welcomed.

Note: a YouTube video of the band can be found via the Gallery page

Happy listening.

ND

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The Jake Leg Jug Band
15 February 2025

Photo: Lyn Quigley

Despite another cold Saturday evening in Louth, all seats were taken for the return of the ever-popular Jake Leg Jug Band led by Duncan Wilcox on vocals and double bass, accompanied by Warren James (vocals, guitar and banjo), Andy Henderson (trumpet and cornet), Matt Palmer (reeds) and Nick Barber on washboard.

Accustomed as we are to seeing such outstanding front-line musicians as Andy and Matt taking the lead, it was the dynamic rhythm section that called the tunes, with informative introductions from Duncan and the usual energy-packed performance from the irrepressible Warren.

The carefully chosen programme was a mix of ragtime, blues and gospel numbers from the twenties and thirties, which included old favourites such as Railroad Bill, Just a Closer Walk with Thee, Down By The Riverside, and Midnight Special, as well as lesser-known treasures such as The Tale of Ella Speed, Buffalo Girl, and the poignant Little Black Train.

Photo: Lyn Quigley

The band’s name has its origins in the poverty and prohibition of the twenties in North America, when jazz musicians could no longer afford to buy conventional instruments and improvised with household substitutes such as washboards, jugs and bottles. Probably the best known of these was Will Shade’s Memphis Jug Band. As Duncan explained, Jake Leg was a condition caused by drinking improperly prepared or contaminated liquor.

Happy listening.

ND

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The Big Easy Swing Band
1 February 2025

Photo: Lyn Quigley

Saturday 1 February 2025 marked the second visit of the Big Easy Swing Band to Louth Jazz Club. Based in Leeds and formed 10 years ago, the band is led by Jon Scully on trumpet and vocals, with Anna Chandler on sax, accompanied by Harry Orme (guitar and vocals), George MacDonald (piano), Sam Jackson (bass), and John Arnesen (drums).

As the composition of the lineup suggests, this is not a large swing band in the Glenn Miller or Count Basie style, with all the orchestral colouring that was so popular with dancers. With three very competent vocalists it is not surprising that it was a very lyric-driven evening, which included Honeysuckle Rose, Caravan, Sweet Georgia Brown, Lady Be Good, and Just One of Those Things, as well as some fine instrumental solos.

Another good turnout included a few more new faces, and their applause confirmed their clear enjoyment of the evening, as we continue to be a little more diverse in our choice of bands without straying too far from our New Orleans heritage.

Photo: Lyn Quigley

If, like me, you were a little surprised to hear from these Yorkshire folk that Louis Armstrong had a 2-week residency at the Batley Variety Club back in the sixties, I think you will find that it was a single performance on 17 June 1968 during a two-week tour of the UK. Still one up on us though!

Happy listening!

ND

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Alligator Gumbo
18 January 2025

A full-house for the second appearance of Swing Band Alligator Gumbo (Photo: Lyn Quigley)

What a great start to the New Year! A full house welcomed back the Leeds-based group, Alligator Gumbo, who left at the end of the evening with shouts for “more” ringing in their ears. The presence of over 20 non-members in the audience suggests that our recent publicity efforts are starting to pay dividends.

It was good to see younger faces in the club, both in the audience and in the band, energetically led by James Paylor on bass and vocals. The absence of a trombone in the line-up was an initial disappointment to those New Orleans purists among us, but the outstanding ability of Chris Williamson on trumpet and Greg Surmacz on clarinet and sax, plus the versatility of a superb rhythm section, more than compensated. Notable among the latter were Jose Williamson on drums, washboard and spoons, and pianist Chris Lloyd whose rendition of Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out was, for me, the highlight of the evening.

It was a fitting end to a week in which there was further evidence of the effect of our ongoing publicity efforts. We had a feature article in the January issue of the nationally-distributed Just Jazz magazine, and on 18 January a live appearance on BBC Radio Lincolnshire to discuss the recent Louth Leader declaration that Louth Jazz Club could become the jazz capital of eastern England.

Happy listening! ND

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Warren James
21 December 2024

Our last event of 2024 was a lively affair with “The Story of Skiffle” presented by the inexhaustible Warren James (guitar, banjo, vocals and commentary), ably supported by Matt Palmer (clt/sax), Jim Swinnerton (bass), and Baby Jools (drums).

In between numbers the knowledgeable Warren explained skiffle’s brief period of popularity in the UK during the mid-fifties, and the much longer history of its roots in Louisiana and Chicago, as well as how it was the starting point for many of the famous UK performers such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.

The comprehensive set list included numbers by legends such as Leadbelly and Lonnie Donegan, and included numbers such as Precious Lord, Lonesome Road, Freight Train, I’m a Rambling Man, and I Shall Not Be Moved, interspersed with just the right amount of banter between Warren and Jools. The highlight was This Train, delivered at a tempo which must have brought Warren close to collapse. What a way to see Christmas in.

ND. Chair

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Easy Riders
14 December 2024

On 14 December the club was in festive mood for this year’s Christmas entertainment provided by the Easy Riders with a broad selection of numbers that included Canal Street Blues and Lonesome Road, as well as the odd Christmas carol a la Dixieland. Free mince pies and a bumper raffle extended the festive mood through the intermission and we ended up Dreaming of a White Christmas with Bing Crosby beaming down upon us.

Thanks to Julia & Geoff Mullett who decorated the Christmas tree and the club room.

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Golden Eagle Jazz Band
7 December 2024

Mention the Golden Eagle Jazz Band to anyone who has watched the band, and you are likely to receive a groan and the comment “Oh, those jokes!” Indeed, Kevin Scott who runs the band, slips in some fine New Orleans Jazz between tired jokes prompting one member to comment, “Aren’t these jokes laboured.” Not only laboured, they managed to offend a large portion of society – animal lovers, people with family members in care homes, and NHS staff for starters. I'm told that a number of these jokes heard last night were first aired when the band visited last year – some in bad taste, some smutty, but few funny in the way Brian Boles (a great storyteller and joker) brought the house down – members laughing so much they cried!

But, to the band. An excellent outfit, although their lineup last night contained only four of the six advertised musicians. Band Leader Kevin Scott played a fine banjo; the much-travelled Richard Church excelled on cornet (the very one, he told us, that Ken Colyer used when he visited Louth in June 1987); Simon Wyld was great on trombone and the front line was completed by Alan Cresswell on clarinet. Supporting Kevin in the rhythm section, was John Sirett, who played his double bass without amplification, yet his driving beat made him to my mind, one of the best bassists to have visited the Club. Completing the lineup was Louth regular Ray Bowden on drums (replacing for the second year, Malc Murphy, who won’t make the journey to Louth from leafy Surrey). Ray, who made the ‘short’ drive from Norwich, has played with at least five bands at the club in the past 10 years, including Brian Carrick’s Algiers Stompers and Andrew Hall, so together with Kevin and John, the band has a formidable rhythm section. Altogether, an excellent New Orleans band.

Awful weather kept the attendees to just 35, but they were treated to some great Jazz Standards, beginning with ‘When I leave The World Behind’ and ending, to huge applause with ‘Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler’.

Great Jazz, no joke!

Geoff M

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Bluestone Road
30 November 2024

On Saturday 30 November we welcomed the Bluestone Road Blues Band, led by our committee member, Howard Goy, on drums, accompanied by Michael Walker (gtr/vcl), Dave Holness (gtr), Kevin Hulme (bass gtr), and Si Vix ( vcl/harmonica). It drew an attendance of 48 and, although many of these were guests, it was interesting to see that there were quite a few members, whose attendance would suggest that we do have some with more eclectic tastes than the die-hards who keep reminding me that we are a New Orleans club.

photo: John Banister

I must confess that my own inclination is very much towards the latter but a growing number of members seem to feel that some diversification is in our best interests if the club is to have a successful future. Given the dearth of traditional jazz bands in our area, we now rely heavily on the more expensive option of attracting them from elsewhere in the country, and unless and until attendances improve, it is not economically viable to do that for every Saturday of the year.

We are exploring a number of initiatives to encourage the formation of a new local jazz band but it will not happen overnight, so in the meantime it is likely that more of our alternate Saturdays will feature slightly different genres of jazz, without going to any extremes.

Back to the Bluestone Road band, nobody can argue that the blues were not an integral part of New Orleans jazz, courtesy of W C Handy et al, but perhaps the main difference between the way the blues were portrayed in those days and how they are now presented by groups preferring to be known as Blues Bands rather than jazz bands, is in the line-up. We purists grew up on a front line of clarinet, trumpet and trombone. Contrast that with Saturday’s three electronic guitars, a harmonica and drums.

Whatever the line-up, there is no denying that it is a genre that is played from the heart, and that was never more evident than on Saturday, especially in the case of young Michael Walker. Having just reached his 18th birthday, he is a very talented musician and he played like a true veteran, whilst his older colleagues generously gave him every chance to shine.

I was accompanied by relatives from Pembrokeshire, who thought it was a fantastic evening in terms of both the club atmosphere and the music. We were also joined by Cavan Collins from Lincolnshire Community Foundation, from whom we were last week awarded a £2,000 grant to help us make the club known to a wider audience.

Such has been the success of the last two Bluestone visits, that we have agreed to them using the club again on 4 occasions in the next year; dates to be announced in due course.

Next Saturday, 7 December, we have the ever-popular Golden Eagle Jazz Band, for which we have had several advance bookings, so if you plan to attend it may be advisable to contact Club Secretary, John Banister, to pre-book and ensure that you get a seat. Also, if you have not already done so, you can pick up your tickets for the Tad Newton gig at the Town Hall next April.

Happy listening

ND

Easy Riders
23 November 2024

On Saturday 30 November our old faithfuls, The Easy Riders, provided the entertainment, making it a fitting end to a week in which there were several exciting developments in the club.

We launched our new Events Diary page on our website, had another press release in the Louth Leader, and were offered space in the Louth Wind Orchestra newsletter to explain our current ambitions and see if any of their musicians would be interested in forming a much-needed additional trad jazz band in the local area.

We also purchased a Christmas tree which has been beautifully decorated in a jazz theme by Jill Stainton and Lyn Quigley for display at the St James’ Church Xmas Tree Festival which runs from 6th-11th December. Entry is free so do go and see it.

The highlight of the week though was news of a £2,000 grant made to the Jazz Club from the Ideas and Innovation Fund, administered through Lincolnshire Community Foundation. The grant is to help the Club to increase awareness of live jazz in Louth to a wider range of people. As part of this, we will stage 3 free jazz events at the club in 2025, as well as carrying out more marketing. Details to be announced shortly. Many thanks and congratulations to Louise Niekirk, who prepared the bid, which was submitted and approved in less than a week.

Our next gig will be a Blues Night with Bluestone Road on 30 November, followed by The Golden Eagle Jazz Band on 7 December (pre-booking applies), and by our Christmas event on 14 December, for which the £5 admission charge (non-members welcome at £8) will include a free drinks voucher that can be exchanged at the bar for any drink costing up to £3.50. Mince pies will also be served at the interval, and the music will be provided by The Easy Riders, making their last appearance of the year.

From January 2025 we aim to feature a wider range of bands on the weeks between the visiting band gigs, which means that we shall not see the Easy Riders quite so often – probably around 6 times during the year. It is not so much “goodbye” as “au revoir” to them, so please come along for this rather special evening to show our appreciation for the many years over which we have enjoyed our association with our amazing resident band.

Happy listening ND

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Washington Whirligig
16 November 2024

photo: John Banister

Saturday 16 November saw the return of the Barnsley group, Washington Whirligig, with David Hepworth on reeds, Liz Hepworth (bass and vocals), Andy Bramall (guitar, banjo and vocals), Rob Cotterill (drums), and Simon James guesting on trumpet.

With very little change to the line-up, these musicians have also played for us previously as The Roaring Twenties Jazz band. The difference is evident in the set list, with the Roaring Twenties group (as the name suggests) sticking more faithfully to the traditional New Orleans numbers, whilst the Whirligig also caters for those with more mainstream tastes.

video: John Stainton

48 attendees enjoyed a superb evening in which, for me, the highlight was That’s a Plenty at the end of the first set. It was also good to hear a few less familiar numbers, and the applause at the end of the evening suggested that we shall be pleased to invite them back in the not too distant future.

Ticket sales are already going well for the Tad Newton concert at the Town Hall on 5 April 2025, with a roughly equal split between existing members and people who have simply seen the publicity, so don’t delay and risk disappointment. Should you plan to buy your tickets at the club, our next three Saturday events are as follows:

Happy listening!

ND (Chair)

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