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

The first gig at new venue the Kingsway Hotel got off to a good start with the visit of the Harlem Hot Stompers, the Manchester based seven-piece outfit making a return to "Jazz on a Sunday".

Playing to an enthusiastic audience the Stompers, led by reedsman Tony Foulkes, entertained with a nice mix of traditional numbers. The honky-tonk piano play of John Reade was used to good effect with solo performances on 'Whistling Rufus' and 'Wildcat Blues'.

Trombonist Derek Calloway (Temperance Seven) used his soft vocal tones on 'Magnolia's Wedding Day', 'You Took Advantage Of Me' and 'Baby Won't You Please Come Home'. We were treated to some nice band arrangements on Jelly Roll Morton's 'Blue Blood Blues' and Bix Beiderbecker's 'Davenport Blues' with neat trombone and piano cameo solos.

An excellent version of Handy's 'Yellow Dog Blues' featured the powerfull trumput play of Tony Smith and Ray Owen's bass solo, and Ian McCann was given his head with a fine banjo solo in 'China Boy', doubling up with guitar as part of a tight rhythm section which included veteran drummer Bob Jones.

Smith's vocal on 'My Gal Sal', Foulkes' vocals on 'Curse Of An Aching Heart' and the finale of 'Bye and Bye' all added up to an enjoyable evening.

Harlem Hot Stompers
16 November 2003