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

The long established Lancaster based Quayside Hot Stompers play a slow easy jazz style of the twenties without a trombone, a drummer or a double bass and it is tuba maestro Colin Turner integrating the rhythm section of banjo/guitarist Geraldine Duckles and pianist John Reade (standing in for indisposed bandleader Tom Culbert).
Trumpeter Alan Duckles leads the show with clarinettist Barry Marshall in a two man front line with the deep jazz tones of Delia Glaister on the vocals.

Starting with “Give Me Your Telephone Number” so that 'they would know everybody', Delia took front stage with “I Get The Blues When It Rains” – very apt – and took the floor singing “I Love To Dream” with Turner’s tuba solo, and “Too Busy” accompanied by Reade’s piano.

Willie the Weeper brought out the best in muted trumpet and clarinet, and two lesser played numbers found a new arrangement of "Olga" and duos of clarinet/banjo and trumpet/piano in a fine rendition of "Stumbling".

Barber's "Doing the Crazy Walk" got the second set off to a good start with neatly chorded arrangements of Bechet's “Dans les rues d'Antibes” and the hectic “Wang Wang Blues”.

“Sweet and Low Blues” brought the best out of Marshall’s clarinet and Alan Duckles opened his vocal chords for a fine version of Waller’s “Hustling and Bustling”. Delia entertained with the dark “Beale Street Blues” the gentle “Breeze” and finished the set with “I’m Crazy Bout My Baby” well backed by piano and tuba.

These guys believe in giving value with the final set compromising of eleven numbers of differing styles. “Wah Wah Wah” brought out the syncopating rhythm of the 20’s, whilst the talents of Reade’s piano came to the fore in “Marple Leaf Rag”. The intricate number of “Shout’em Aunt Tilly” showed the musical expertise of Marshall, Reade and Turner.

Alan Duckles combined with Delia in the boy/girl number “Kiss Me Sweet” and Duckles went it alone with “If I Could Be with You One Hour Tonight” with piano solo.

But with Delia’s contributions always enhancing the evening, the range included “The Wrong Key in the Right Keyhole”, “Black Mountain Blues”, “Dr Jazz” and leading the band out with “Dream” – good stuff.

Quayside Hot Stompers
The Flying Horse Hotel
Sunday 25 November 2007