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

A cold rainy Castleton night was warmed up by a return visit of Manchester's Harlem Hot Stompers. Led by the quiet man, reeds virtuoso Tony Foulkes with guest 'Cornetto' Smoky City's supremo Bill Smith and completing the front line, trombonist John Rowland - 33 years hot stomping.

Opening with favourite 'Buddy's Habit' a bright first set featured Smith vocalising on 'Angry', 'I Want A Little Girl' and the blues numbers 'Memphis' and 'Wild Man'. A neat duo of Smith and Foulkes repeating their Dallas JB days together on 'Chicago Buzz', the set ended with front line frivolity in 'The Porters Love Song To A Chambermaid' - sort of downstairs, upstairs!

The second set started with a tribute to ex-Gabriesl stalwart Brian Lindley who had suddenly joined the heavenly choir, 'Just A Closer Walk To Thee', followed by 'Millenberg Joys', pianist John Reare's solo 'Wild Cat Blues' and Rowland sliding all over with 'Savoy Blues'.

Neil McCann's guiar solo on 'Nobodys Sweetheart Now' got the final session underway and it included Oliver's 'Jackass Blues', 'Maryland, My Maryland' featuring Dave Parr on bass and Foulkes vocalising on 'Bye and Bye'.

An unusual feature of the gig was the performance of three early Chris Barber numbers; 'Its Tight Like That' sung by Foulkes, 'Petite Fleur' the composition for clarinet played by Foulkes and a band version of 'Whistling Rufus'.

Three numbers out of four from the first Jazz EP I ever bought - what memories!

The Harlem Hot Stompers
December 2002