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

When I review a gig by the Old Fashioned Love Band, I always run out of superlatives! They are ultra professional, look the part and play their programme with the highest quality!

In the background the quiet men Harry Forelius on bass, and Dave Timms (almost quiet!) on drums play an integral part of the rhythm section. The maestro of guitar and banjo whispering Dave Reeves accompanies his gentle love songs of the Twenties; ‘I Saw Stars’, ‘Rhythm and Romance’, ‘Take Me To That Land of Jazz’, ‘Romance’ and ‘The New Yorker’, quite unique in his presentation.

Led by trumpet player Mel Hill, his smooth vocals entertained with ‘Embraceable You’, ‘Just A Closer Walk with Thee’, with the instrumental arrangement upping the tempo, ‘Sugar’, with Mike Turner’s relaxed clarinet style, ‘Right Out Of Nowhere’, accompanied by Turners soft sax – a regular request – and rarely sung ‘Wine Boy’ with Hill’s usual aplomb.

Turner’s easy style on the reeds is a joy to hear and he vocalised on Bechet’s dubious ‘Viper Mad’ with clarinet, ‘When I Grow Too Old to Dream’ with sax and an alto Sax solo in ‘Algiers Strutt’.

Mike Pembroke on the trombone and "CD sales", has a relaxing vocal style and used his talents to good effect in ‘When You’re Smiling’, ‘Dark Town Strutters Ball’, ‘Heart Of My Heart’ and an unusual rendition of ‘Some Of These Days’ with muted trombone and Forelius’ Bass solo!

The multi lingual Turner sang Trenets ‘I Wish You Love’ in French accompanying himself on sax, and the band played out with everyone blasting away to ‘Salty Dog’ - breathtaking.

The Old Fashioned Love Band
The Broadfield Hotel
Sunday 25 June 2006