Pipkin, Healey and Hills

Not a posh firm of solicitors but the surviving representatives of the illustrious Swing Kings, their partner Roy Dutton having succumbed to the lergy. (Roys place was taken very kindly at the last minute by Martin Emeny, to whom we were grateful indeed!)

To those of you who decided to stay at home in the warm and dry last night, you missed a good 'un. Ron and Tony kept the rhythm section very much on its toes with a selection of numbers that required concentration and accuracy, some with distinctly bebop flavour and others of the ballad type with lush chord patterns that you dont hear every day. And Roger Heeley just gets better and better each time he comes to Malvern - he not only swings like the clappers but he is inventive and exciting too.

I must admit I came to the club last night feeling absolutely knackered, for as most of you know, I have the challenge of looking after the Missus who tragically is in the grip of dementia at a very young age. But after half an hour in the company of a fine band and our lovely Spring Lane audience, it all started to look brighter!! A little bit of what you fancy, etc etc.

Shameless reminder - Jazz at Colwall Church, Saturday 21 November

Johnny Everetts Red Dragon Jazzmen will be raising the roof at St James chuch, Colwall. The concert starts at 7.30 and you can just turn up and pay on the door. Costs £7.00. The band have been on great form this year and we can promise you a great traddy evening. Hope to see you there folks.

22nd November - Pipkin, Hills, Heeley, Dutton

The swing kings are back and it will be great to see them again. They never disappoint and they always produce something we haven't heard before. A night to look forward to. See you there!

A Bracing Evening with Arthur

The man in the go-faster braces didn't disappoint, aided and abetted by Mssrs Carlton, Veasey, Kelly and Emeny. It turned out to be an easy run through the small band swing standards book and if one or two of the arrangements were slightly disarranged, nobody seemed to mind very much! Many thanks to the guys for a good swinging evening.

Next Sunday - 8th November

We'll be welcoming Arthur Brown (tpt), Peter Carlton (reeds), Martin Veasey (tbn), Rod Kelly (pno), Martin Emeny (dms), and Len and Phil will be in attendance too. Which pair of braces will Arthur be sporting this time?

Jazz at Colwall Church - 21st November

St James Church, Colwall hosts Johnny Everett's Red Dragon Jazzmen in concert on Saturday 21st November, as part of a series of fundraising events. Singer Ruth Frith will be with the band and we should have a really good evening of good-time dixieland.

The music starts at 7.30pm and admission will cost £6.00. We're expecting to finish at ten, so there will still be time for a pint at the Crown or the Colwall Park!

You can pay at the door or get tickets from either Colwall Church Office (01684 540330) or from John Goodwin's Colwall office.

As your correspondant is responsible for fundraising at St James, he humbly points out that if you support this event you'll definitely be remembered in his prayers!!

Next time: Arthur Brown

Arthur returns on 8th November. I did a gig with Arthur last Saturday and he was on sparkling form, Don't be late!