Sunday saw Newport Jazz Club celebrating it’s fifth birthday with a double helping of Sunday concerts.

In the afternoon the Club played host to Chris Walker’s Pedigree Jazz Band. Drawing on the music of the “Trad boom” era of the late 1950’s to the early 1960’s popularized by the likes of Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball and Chris Barber the band, with a nostalgic twenty four number set, took the audience back to the days when tunes like “Midnight in Mosow” could be found in what was then known as the “Hit Parade” Led by Chris Walker on clarinet and Roger Marks on Trombone the audience were given a brief narrative about each number putting it in it’s historical context. They were solidly supported by Graham Trevarton on trumpet, John Noddings on banjo, Tony Mann on bass and Colin Larn on drums 

1. William Tell Overture
2. Chimes Blues (King Oliver)
3. Under the Double Eagle (Acker Bilk)
4. Going Home (Ken Colyer)
5. The LiveryStable Blues (1st jazz record – 1917) (Original Dixieland Jazz Band
6. Tansy (Alex Welsh) (Written by Norrie Paramor)
7. I’m Shy Mary Ellen, I’m shy (Bob Wallis)
8. Mack the knife (Chris Barber)
9. Easter Parade (Acker Bilk) (Written by Irvin Berlin)
10. Sukiyaki
11. It’s Tight Like That (Chris Barber) (Written by Tampa Red and Georgia Tom)
12. Blaze Aaway (Acker Bilk)
13. The Green Leaves of Summer (Kenny Ball)
14. Lonesome (Monty Sunshine)
15. White Christmas (Chris Barber) (Written by Irving Berlin)
16. Last Night on the Back Porch
17. The Martinique (Chris Barber)
18. There is a Tavern in the Town (Terry Lightfoot)
19. Shout ‘em Aunt Tilley
20. Margie
21. Summer set (Acker Bilk)
22. Midnight in Moscow (Kenny Ball)
23. Anchors aweigh
24. Ice Ccream (Chris Barber)

A chance meeting in India between local sax player Gary Plumley and Italian born vocalist Anna Lauvvergnac led to Anna coming especially to the UK for the evening concert. Although well known in mainland Europe she is relatively unknown to UK audiences and after Sunday’s outstanding performance it is hoped that she returns to these shores very soon indeed. Her sixteen number set contained many standards and as a gesture to the warm welcome given she dedicated “The nearness of you” to her first audience on the Isle of Wight. She was accompanied by her musical director Steve Brown on drums, Jon Thorne on bass, Nick Page on guitar and, the man who made it all happen, Gary Plumley on sax. 

Anna Lauvergnac – vocals 
Steve Brown – drums (Musical director) 
Jon Thorne – bass 
Nick Page guitar 
Gary Plumley – sax 

The Set List 

1. This could happen to you 
2. East of the sun 
3. I’ve got the world on a string 
4. Willow weep for me 
5. I thought about you 
6. You’d be so nice to come home to 
7. I fall in love too easily 
8. Mr Saturday dance 
9. Let’s fall in love 
10. ? 
11. On Green Dolphin Street (Instrumental) 
12. Close your eyes 
13. Unknown blues 
14. Paper moon 
15. The nearness of you 
16. Hi fly 

© Ian Mitchell

Available to be used with permission to promote Newport Jazz club