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

Manchester’s Harlem hot stompers set the hands clapping and the feet tapping in another 'Jazz on a Sunday' night of musical entertainment!

Ragtime and boogie piano virtuoso John Read, an integral part of the Stompers was given plenty of chance to shine, excelling in his arranged solo medley - "Bill Pickles".

Led by reedsman Tony Foulkes, this seven piece ensemble provided great variety with vocals shared by Foulkes, trumpeter Bill Smith and guest bass player Ray Owens.

The gig got going with "Too Busy" and Barbers "Whistling Rufus" and the band said bye bye with "Bye and Bye".

Lots of cameo interludes in the slow New Orleans "Storeyville Blues" and the dance enticing "Bogalusa Strutt".

The prominent banjo of Ian McCann featured in "China Boy" and in accompanying Foulke's clarinet in "Oriental Man". Owens crooned through "Blue Turning Grey Over You" and "My Blue Heaven" whilst Dave Berily's rhythmic drumming was allowed to break free during "Algiers Strutt".

John Rohans powerful trombone drove hard in the frontline, this no better than in the rarely played "Flow Gently Sweet Afton". The versatile Smith often laid down his trumpet for blues harmonica drive, whilst vocalising with "Put on your Old Grey Bonnet", "When my Dreamboat Comes Home" and the raw blues "I'm Going to Chicago" when his harmonica, Foulke's sax, Rohan's muted trombone and Read's boogie piano 'blew everything away'.

I didn’t like the chimes of "Chimes Blues", played by the notes from a piano - no excitement - but a strong front line presentation of "Snag It" was superb. Stomp on!

Harlem Hot Stompers
The Broadfield Hotel
Sunday 26 February 2006