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

When you call a substitute of the bench the performance is often enhanced despite the fact that a visit from The Silver Leaf Jazz Band from Barnsley is always a welcome treat.

Led by husband and wife team David and Liz Hepworth on clarinets and saxes, the versatility of this seven piece outfit shines through with bass player Andy Booth switching to baritone sax. Vocals are shared between trumpeter Dan O'Brien, trombonist Alan Osborne, guitar/banjoist Andy Bramhall and Liz Hepworth.

Featuring new drummer Rod Younger (it's what your right hands for), the band played a variety of numbers and unusual arrangements of blues traditionals, marches and standards, and the rhythm boys were given their heads to make plenty of impact.

'Savoy Blues', 'Cake Walking Babes', 'Indiana' and a ferocious attack of Liz's sax on 'Fast Coast Trot' were the pick of the first set, with a short second set producing such favourites as 'Hindustan', 'Redwing' and 'Ace In The Hole'.

The final set produced some absolute gems with 'Bourbon Street Parade' for starters, multi-solos on 'Algiers Strutt' and a suburb presentation of Thelonius Monks' 'Bluemonk'. Liz Hepworth led on saxophone with excellent blending from Bramhall, Booth and Younger (out of this world). Sophie Osborne led the way with 'Some Of These Days' and the Hepworths combined with duo clarinets on 'Weary Blues' which seemed anything but weary, ably backed by the rhythm section.

Sunday is a good time for 'The Preacher' with a duo vocal by O'Brien and Bramhall before the band were 'Running Wild' in a blistering finale, Bramhall giving his tonsils a final airing.

The Silver Leaf Jazz Band
12 October 2003