Reviews

Sunday saw Newport Jazz Club drop sails as they moored up for a farewell concert at the Apollo Theatre. Jazz has its roots in the music of New Orleans at the turn of the nineteenth century so it was appropriate that homage was paid to this era as the club bowed out

Taking centre stage were the Louisiana Rhythm Kings whose repertoire consists of the jazz of the 1920s and 1930s with the exciting sounds of the early days of jazz. Advertised as featuring the music, amongst others, of King Oliver, Louis Armstrong and Bix Beiderbecke the audience were not disappointed.

Led by Simon Wyld on trombone and supported by Titch Walker on trumpet, Quentin Bryan on clarinet and sax, David Price on banjo and guitar, Damian Murphy on piano, Roger Sills on bass and tuba with Mike Jeffries on drums the instrumentation mirrored that of the Louis Armstrong Hot 7 recordings of 1927.Suffice to say Louis Armstrong was well represented in the band's repertoire which included a splendid rendition of Chimes blues which was his first recording with King Oliver and also went on to become the signature tune of our very own Chris Barber. The band built up to a fitting old time jazz finale with Royal garden blues made popular by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band before taking the audience on a Bourbon Street parade.

It is sad to see the demise of any organization bringing live music to the island and it is hoped that someone will step in to build on the foundations laid by Bill Wills and his team.