Yes! There's still a heart in England!

It just keeps getting better, dunnit!?

Pete Ainge, Selwyn Newton and Richard Leach came together to provide a lively and entertaining night which (I hope you agree) showed why these guys are members of two of the Midlands' very best bands.

The style was relaxed - laid-back even - and the choice of numbers made for some great solo improvisations from all three front liners. Fans of the Heart of England band would not have been surprised at the ease with which Pete and Selwyn fitted together to producea fine variety of textures and sounds, and they had an ideal accomplice in Richard which resulted in a swinging Chicago sound from start to finish.

Ken Jones was on top form too, so we had a rapport in the rhythm section from the off. Here's an insider's technical observation for you: the rhythm section played tight and quiet last night, and in doing so built up a tension that was for me one of the best nights I've enjoyed down at Spring Lane. Some of the best moments last night were played pianissimo - we just hope you heard them at the back!

Finally, we must mention the cabaret moments of close harmony - we are unlikely to forget Selwyn's gay rendition of When Somebody Thinks You're Wonderful, and the boys gave us a great version of When You Wore a Tulip to remind us of how entertaining a band the HoE is.

Thanks to everyone for a memorable night (yet again) and see you next time.

Comin' Up - May 25th

To continue the footballing analogy (see below) we have a couple of strikers from The Heart of England band next week - Pete Ainge (tpt) and Selwyn Newton (clt), aided and abetted by Richard Leach (of the Antique Six and his Seven Stars) on the sludgepump.

I've long been of the opinion that the heart of England was plucked out and eaten by Margaret Thatcher back in the eighties, but you live and learn, particularly when Pete and Selwyn are blowing.

Ken Wright's drummin', Len's thrummin' and Phil Probert's strummin'.

A front line to savour - 18th May

Another memorable night at Spring Lane, with four in the front and four at the back (when John Ripper had a welcome sit-in) gave us a fat sound and the chance to create some serious riffs.

Tony Pipkin and Ron Hills brought us several of their Swing Kings repertoire, aided and abetted by the ever-creative Terry Roberts. In fact we had three of the Martinique with us - Terry, Ken Jones and Jim Harney. It was a bit like playing for England when Len and me were the full backs and there were sizeable squads from Man United and Chelsea in the attack! When John Ripper came on to play baritone sax, Ken Jones remarked that we were well on the way to becoming the Len Thwaites Big Band, and there were certainly moments when the front line sounded seriously Basie-like.

So it was another great night to be in the rhythm section, when we could lay back on Jim's lovely relaxed swing and chug away while listening to some great solo work from the guys.

I know I say this too often, but there aren't many clubs where you can hear this kind of small band swing, this good, week after week. I think it beats the hell out of Collier-esque dirges, though I expect I'll get hate mail for even mentioning it!!

Any road up, see yer all next Sunday!