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

The visit of the Roy Potts Five and a Penny Band to Castleton was my first viewing (and hearing) but I shall certainly be casting an eye towards their next appearance in the area.

Led by their charismatic powerful trumpeter Roy Potts the bands entertained for three hours with musicianship of the highest quality with the unusual charm of inviting the fans to select their own favourite numbers. Potts was accompanied on the front row by the mellow tones of Dave Burke on clarinet and sax and versatile trombonist Eric Brierley almost a Gabriels regular these days.

The first set brought predominately Blues compositions with multi-solos on 'Tishamingo Blues', 'Wolverine Blues' and excellent version of 'Canal Street Blues' and fine Potts vocal, Burke clarinet solo and guitarist Dave Alexander's solo on 'Beale Street Blues' this long set also saw Potts using his voice variations with the numbers 'Make Me A Pallet On The Floor', 'Somebody Loves Me' and 'Dark Town Stutters Ball' ably supported by Burke's solos on clarinet and sax, and bouncing with 'Pennies From Heaven'.

With the band and Jazzers suitable refreshed, a short second set began with favourite 'Savoy Blues', a Brierley solo with 'Shine', a Wright version of Sinatra's 'Come Fly With Me', Potts airing the tonsils again with 'Sunny Side Of The Street' and 'When My Sugar' with penny whistle solo from perpetual motion man Wright, and the delightful Caribbean nuances of the tune 'St Thomas' beautifully blending Burke's tenor sax with Alexander's guitar and the quiet ever smiling Tim Kitchener on bass.

So into the finale with request on request all played with professional precision interspersed with the humour and rapport which made this an evening to remember. 'Chimes Blues' featuring Burke's clarinet and Wright's (who else) harmonica. Potts vocalising on 'Redwing' with trombone and clarinet solos, Brierley's 'Mellow' trombone leading 'Tin Roof Blues' with neat cameos featuring Alexander's banjo, Burke's solo clarinet for my request 'Petit Fleur', Sidney Bechet's masterpiece and finishing with the mayhem of 'Too Busy', 'The Saints Go Marching In' and 'Get Out Of Here And Go On Home'. Did we have to?

Roy Potts Five and a Penny Band
March 2003