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New Orleans Jazz Festival Hemsby

10th to 13th March 2017

This was going to be a “special” jazz festival. Not only was it Renee and John Long’s 100th jazz festival, their 27th at Hemsby, this would be the last one they organised before they retired.

Bands playing this weekend: New Orleans Jazz Bandits, Sussex Jazz Kings, Rae Bros Festival Band, Excel Jazz Band, New Orleans Heat, Seacroft Allstars, TJ Johnson Band.

Sussex Jazz Kings (3 sessions) – line-up: Dave Stradwick (tpt), Iain McCauley (tmb), Bernie Stutt (clt), Peter Clancy (bass/sousa), Kevin Scott (bjo), Pete Lay (dms). This band always put on a good show, pleasing to the dancers and audience alike. Their jazz is hot and draw their audience to them.

Take a "Walk Through The Streets of the City" with them.

Click to continue

Excel Jazz Band (4 – sessions) – Line-up: – Tony Karavis (cnt), Jim Blenkin (tmb), Bernie Murtagh (clt/alto sax), Tim Waike (bjo), Peter Brooks (bass), Peter Littleproud (dms). They did have a bit of a hiccup during one of their sets, but recovered and went on to play well. Appreciated by the audience.

Here is "Walking Man Blues"

Rae Bros Festival Band (3 sessions + Rae Bros Hymns and Spirituals) – line-up: Steve Graham (cnt), Jim Blenkin (tmb) Gavin Lee (reeds), John Robinson (string bass), Dave Rae (bjo) Kenny Milne (dms), Ian Wynne (pno), with Mac Rae joining the band for one session on clarinet. Steve Graham was also playing a cornet once owned by Ken Colyer. This is a lovely band who play some unusual jazz tunes. They are very well liked and are much appreciated by their audience. Ian Wynne had travelled from Paris to play with the band.

Here Mac Rae sings "Ting - a -ling"

The weekend started with The New Orleans Jazz Bandits (3 sessions). Line-up: Richard Church (cnt), Brian butler (tmb), Ron Rumbol (clt), Malc Murphy (drms) Dave Fawcett (bjo), Peter Brooks (string bass). We had some really good music from this band, the audience thoroughly enjoyed everything they played. Brian Butler, who we had not heard before, played very impressively. Richard Church was playing a cornet once owned by Ken Colyer. More details of this further in this write-up. Good solos all round. This is "St. Louis Blues".