Diary

Hot Fingers welcomes you to an eclectic mix of vintage acoustic music.  As well as the red hot jazz of 1920’s New York, there will be sophisticated 1930’s Swing. The band re-create the ‘French Coffee House’ sound of the king of gypsy swing Django Reinhardt, the blues guitars of Eddie Lang and Lonnie Johnson, and the syncopated Latin rhythms of Argentinean Oscar Aleman, this is mixed with vocals from the song-writing greats, crooners such as Bing Crosby and Al Bowlly, and hokem from the likes of Cliff ‘Ukulele Ike’ Edwards.  From Jump-Jive to swing, from the Charleston to Bossa-Nova, Hot Finger’s wide range of styles and rhythms makes them popular with both sit-down audiences and dancers alike.  The band comprises Spats Langham (banjo, guitar, ukulele), Danny Blyth (bass clarinet, guitar) and Malcolm Sked (sousaphone, double bass).  They will be joined by the superb vocalist Emily Campbell who adds a touch of class with her plaintive vocals, drawing inspiration from the likes of Peggy Lee and Ella Fitzgerald.

This highly popular and talented band is comprised of leading musicians in their field each of whom have a long standing history of playing traditional and popular jazz.  With a high standard of musicianship and a touch of humour the band will provide first class entertainment.  Their music is drawn mainly from popular composers and date from a period of between 1900 and 1950 in a Traditional style along with numbers from the swing era including Sinatra type compositions.  The band is West Midlands / Shropshire based and covers adjacent counties that include Worcestershire, Staffordshire Herefordshire and Warwickshire with occasional excursions further afield.

Christmas Party Fun.  Mince pies, crackers, surprise present raffle, Christmas Hamper Raffle draw, and lots of fun.

Tickets for concerts in advance, either enquire at the desk or send a S.A.E. and cheque made payable to Jazzamatazz to Emma Pearse, 1 Long Close Avenue, Allesley Village, Coventry, CV5 9GH.   Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the door.

Plumb Loco is a 7 piece band, comprising of freelance professional musicians from the Leics/Notts/Derbys areas with an odd one  from Crewe. Each member of the band has over 55 years performing experience except for guitarist Richard Smith, who is not even 50 yet – but as he’s regarded as one of the best players in the UK, we forgive his youthfulness. We play music that varies twixt jazz and rock ‘n’ roll and if you don’t blink, you might catch a bit of country in there. Although the musicians work separately, the band gets together for weddings, funerals, bar mitzvahs, circumcisions, and gigs such as this one. Most members have appeared at the club several times in almost as many bands, but the band is making its third appearance here.

Members (providing nobody gets the plague before they appear):

Stuart Battle (v), Roger Keay (t/s). Richard Smith (g), Ian Wheatley (g), Steve Peters (p), Al Harris (b), Keith Chaplin (d)

Kevin Grenfell (Trombone) is a first-class trombonist with a great sense of humour.  He has put together a fine all-star band, including guest stars, touring in the area.  Whomever joins Kevin and Jeremy on this gig is sure to deliver an entertaining, high octane, harmonious and enjoyable afternoon.