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

Powerful cornetist Denis Armstrong deserted his Yorkshire homeland for Bristol some years ago, but his talents haven’t ‘gone west’ and he makes regular national tours with his Great Northern Jazz Band.

This was their first visit to Rochdale and Armstrong hoped the loss of a front tooth the previous evening would not affect the sound. His geographically located bandsmen included Kent’s reedsman Peter Curtis and York trombonist Pat O’Brien completing a strong front line.

Curtis set the gig in motion vocalising “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” with O’Brien then telling us “I Get the Blues When It Rains”. “Sweet Fields” paired Armstrong’s soft muted cornet with Chester pianist Malcolm Hogarth and rhythm interlude from bassist Isobel Toner, guest banjoist Richard Speight (from The Yorkshire Stompers) and the Isle of Wight drummer Dave Jenkins.

Hogarth’s boogie piano with bass and drum backing gave his interpretation of “Saint Louis Blues” whilst soft trombone, muted cornet and Curtis’ alto sax followed with “Far Away Blues” The set closed with a big band Charleston style of the 20’s presentation of “Bouncing Around”

A different arrangement of “You Always Hurt The One You Love” had Curtis in full voice with duos of powerful cornet and trombone then soft cornet and piano. “Chatanooga Stomp” featured Curtis’ clarinet, muted cornet and boogie piano and the toothless Armstrong attempted one vocal with “Sweet Substitute” giving solo opportunities for O’Brien’s trombone and Speight’s banjo. Curtis accompanied himself in “Tell Me Your Dreams” and the Sunday popular “Sweet Bye and Bye” brought a good contributed blend. A rousing multi cameo input with the racy “Flat Foot” closed the second set.

Armstrong forgot his dental distractions in the final set vocalising with “Everybody Loves My Baby” and “Saint James Infirmary Blues” backed by a clarinet solo.

“Dippermouth” brought out his powerful cornet leading the front line, before Curtis' tonsils entertained with “Sweethearts On Parade”, a rousing multi blast with “Panama” heralded the finale as the band played “Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye”, 'crowning' the evening.

The Great Northern Jazz Band
The Flying Horse Hotel
Sunday 7 October 2007