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

Now into their sixth musical decade, a visit from the black country by the Eagle Jazz Band always has the anticipation high and the audience were not disappointed.

Led by one of their founders, trombonist Tony Hobson and joined by another original, reedsman Bob Smith was deputising for the current incumbent. Trumpeter Pete Brown completed a powerful front line.

Here is a band giving lots of opportunity to it's rhythm section and none more than charismatic drummer Barry Norman whose application of sticks to skins played an integral part of the band's performance.

The long first set featured a variety of rags, the use of tambourines on the spiritual 'Higher Ground' and a pure brass band rendition of 'Under the Double Eagle' with trumpet, bugle and clarinet solos to Wagner's March. Smith's talents were brought to the fore with vocal, clarinet and soprano sax solos in 'Millenberg Joys' and an unusual arrangement of 'Give Me Your Telephone Number' with Brian Lawrence's bass solo, banjo solo from Ian Dalziel, Norman's drum work and Hobson vocalising through a loudhailer - come in no 9!!

A short second set again emphasised the bands versatility - 'One Sweet Letter From You', 'Wang Wang Blues', trumpet solo leading 'Sidewalk Blues', Smith foolin' around with sax, clarinet and vocal on 'It Ain't No Sin' and an unusual version of 'Dardanella' producing a big band sound with clarinet and two trombones - Hobson and Brown.

The final set was entertainment plus with all the band having a great time. Dalziel's banjo led the way 'Leaning On A Lampost', Smith became Clinton Ford with 'I've Got A Bimbo', 'Music Maestro Please' was given the soft sax treatment accompanying Hobson's vocal, before Normans long drum solo joined on the sticks by Brown and Hobson in 'The World Is Waiting The Drumrise (Sunrise)' and yet to come mayhem and madness in 'Running Wild' - drum crescendo, saxophone played by Hobson and Smith's keywork.

Armstrong's 'What A Wonderful World' brought temporary sanity before the pure fun of an 'In The Mood' medley featuring the two trombones and sax in more big band sound. Their piece de resistance finale of the 'Dam Busters March' with the Jazzers sheltering under the tables as the fighter planes flew above!

The Eagle Jazz Band
May 2003