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

Jim Wilkes brought his "Swinging Santas" to the Kingsway with his long traditional Christmas entertainment. The Stompers provide their own style of musical mayhem which does not always attract the purists but always attracts a large band of devotees.

Pianist John Reade welcomed the fans with his honky-tonk selection of popular tunes before the Stompers began their long first set with a bouncing Paul Broomhead's clarinet delivery with 'Algiers Stutt'. Broomhead then used both clarinet and sax complementing Brian Herbert's blues guitaring on 'Creole Love Call' in a slow contrasting number.

Wilkes on trumpet and vocal led a changing tempo version of 'Strike Up The Band' and we knew to expect bass guitarist Geoff Kitson's party piece of 'Just A Gigolo'. Other vocals from Herbert and trombonist Terry Arnold kept the party swinging and a superb arrangement of 'Rent Party Blues' with driving cameo solos was my particular highlight of the evening.

Howard Maud's drum solos spiced up 'Wolverine Blues' and 'Lucille In My Old Oldsmobile' and we even had Broomhead belting out 'Precious Lord' accompanying himself on clarinet, and sounding just like Ian Paisley in full flow!

Coming on stage for the second set in their "Santa" outfits, Arnold, Herbert, Kitson and Wilkes all vocalised in a selection of seasonal numbers which included 'Jingle Bells, 'Rudolph', 'Winter Wonderland' and of course 'White Christmas'. I could have done with some hot chestnuts!

So to the final session with Armstrong's 'Sleepy Time Down South', a fine frontline performance of 'Chimes Blues' and a Herbert vocal medley of Al Johnson's popular numbers!

It was time to drift away into the cold night air with 'Lovely Way To Spend An Evening' ringing in our ears!

Jim Wilkes Stompers
21 December 2003