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

Bunter’s imperials brought a ‘mint’ of entertainment to the Broadfield led by ebullient trombonist Derek Calloway for the hardy ‘Jazzers’ who had braved the appalling weather! A five piece outfit without trumpet with Willy Entwistle on clarinet and sax and the only bandsman not to let his tonsils do the talking.

A neat first set opened with ‘smiles’ and ended with the frenzy of “Shave, Rattle and Roll” with Brian Woods’ strong drumming and an energized performance as Gene Vincent Calloway led the way!

In-between a nice relaxed “My Buddy” with Malcolm Horne’s guitar solo and Entwistle clarinet, Horne vocalising in “I Beg Your Pardon”, bass player John Muskett lending his vocal chords to “When Somebody Thinks You’re Wonderful” backed by guitar and clarinet. Impressive arrangement of “It’s Only a Paper Moon” with Calloway’s vocal and tight band performance of “I Got Rhythm”. Plenty to enjoy after the refreshments with Muskett’s vocal interpretation of “Sweet Georgia brown” Calloway’s ‘piece de resistance’ the dark, deep, “St. James infirmary”, A bouncy Calloway “I’m Putting All My Eggs In One Basket”, and a lazy backing with bowed bass to Horne’s strains of “Baby Wont You Please Come Home”.

Calloway then led a walk around Billy Cotton style getting the audience involved in “Slow Boat to China” before vocals by Muskett with “Jeepers Creepers” and the Calloway treatment of “Make Me a Pallet on the Floor” brought the next rush to the bar!

Variety all the way in the final countdown with the fine musicianship as the band set off “Running Wild” followed by the showmanship of Calloway in the early style reflective version of “While the Blue of the Night Meets the Cold of the Day”.

Horne provided the ‘normal’ version of “Just a Gigolo” with short solos from guitar, sax and trombone. Instrumental exercise with clarinet and drum solos in “I Wanna Be Happy”, a superb arrangement of “Eye Is on the Sparrow” interplay between trombone and clarinet then bass and guitar with Calloway’s sensitive vocal and then it was off home “Waiting for the Sunrise” as Calloway led the band in a rousing finale! As they say folk ‘that’s entertainment’.

Bunters Imperials
The Broadfield Hotel
Sunday 4 February 2007