Reporter: Tony Sheldon
Date online: 12/06/2008

A quick return to Castleton for the Yorkshire Stompers with a mixture of Jazz tending to be of the non New Orleans variety. Starting with two blues numbers the gig got away to a lively pace followed by a plaintive sensitive rendition of 'Creole Love Call' and the rousing 'Shake 'Em Aunt Tilly'.

Trombonist Dave Morrell was well to the fore with a solo cameo on 'I Double Dare You' with leader and trumpeter Tony Smith vocalising on the famous Armstrong number, an excellent arrangement of Morrell and Frank Brookes on sax with the 'Chauvinistically' Johnny Hodges number 'Sweet or Spare Meat' really set the place alight. The club was royally entertained with Brookes vocalising on 'Someday You'll Be Sorry', Morrell singing 'Trouble In Mind' with front line support, and Brookes solo clarinet on everybody's favourite 'High Society'.

The second set brought plenty of opportunity for the long exiled Australian bass virtuoso, the charismatic Annie Hawkins; plucking to good effect on 'Riverboat Shuffle' and performing super bow athletics to accompany Tony Smith's solo and vocal on 'That's My Desire'. Brookes clarinet solo and vocal with the spiritual 'Higher Ground' was well received and drummer Terry Binns got his chance to shine as Smith vocalised on 'Yes Yes In Your Eyes'.

There was very little time left for a third session, but 'Chicago Buzz', the ever popular 'Just a Closer Walk With Thee' and Morrell's 'Orys Creole Trombone' backed by the quiet man banjoist Richard Speight brought proceedings to an end: another successful night despite the freezing temperatures!

The Yorkshire Stompers
December 2002