Savannah Jazz Band

Reporter: Tony Sheldon
Date online: 18/08/2008

Yorkshire's Savannah Jazz Band has been established over many years entertaining the masses. They proudly announce that they never include any 'Deps' so I was somewhat surprised at the indecision between numbers, which I found quite distracting.

Having said that, their music was as always, top class with a strong front line in trombonist and musical director Brian (Sam) Ellis, reedsman Rod Chambers and Bill Smith on trumpet powering the tunes along.

The voice of Chambers set the gig in motion with "Sheik Of Araby" the only other vocal of the first set being Smith's take on "Dark Town Strutters Ball" accompanying himself on trumpet.

"Bugle Boy March" had the band in full flow, with Ellis taking the lead in the quirky "Coquette" and the set finishing with Chambers' sax leading the race interspersed with a solo spot from drummer and band leader John Meehan in the breakneck "Running Wild".

The middle action provided lots of variety starting with the gentle "Linger Awhile" and ending with Smith's vocal and band powerplay on the Rock 'n Roll hit of the 60s "My Babe".

In this set the rhythm section were given the opportunity to show their talents. A tight version of "Black Cat On The Fence" included a Louis Lince banjo solo, and Lince also then featured on "Ragtime Medley". Chambers' clarinet and vocal of "Do Lord" certainly contrasted with his rendition of "Sloop John B", helped by Lince's banjo and the shipwrecked chorus.

Smith "Sat Down To Write Himself A Letter" with bass player the quiet man Tony Pollitt given his chance to feature prominently.

A fresh arrangement of "Swanee River" in strutt style got the final set afloat with Chambers' sax in fifth gear, before switching to clarinet and vocal in a very different presentation of "Muskrat Ramble". "Texas Moan", which was new to me, an arrangement of muted trumpet, clarinet with banjo and muted trombone with bass, gave a new slant to the blues, whilst in contrast, Smith vocalised with "The Curse Of An Aching Heart" with good trombone and sax input.

The popular "Shake It and Break It" had Chambers on clarinet and gravelly voice, with Pollitt getting a bass interlude, before Chambers led the band out with the obvious "Goin' Home".

Good music, fine arrangements, maestros of their instruments... so why all the indecision?

Next Sunday 24 August we will be flying out of the Flying Horse with the Harlem Hot Stompers at 8.00pm. The Landlord could not have made “Jazz On Sunday” more welcome, which is appreciated by all.

Unfortunately the lack of first floor disabled facilities and the late night adjoining night clubs have decimated our viable attendances, and our next gig on Sunday 7 September 2008 with Dave Donohoe will be at a previous venue, known then as Castleton Gabriels, but now the Castleton Sports Centre, the home of Rochdale Mayfield R.L.F.C, and Rochdale Town F.C. 

Give us your support, or we will have to fold in the not too distant future.