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THE DART VALLEY STOMPERS
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What People Say
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DOWN BY THE RIVERSIDE CD - DART VALLEY STOMPERS
Recorded 4 .10.05 by David Baker at The Half Moon, Paignton.
Total playing time 78m. 37s.
At The Jazz Band Ball; Going To New Orleans**; Bourbon Street Parade*; Sweet Lorraine***; Ain't Misbehavin'*; Muskrat Ramble; Down By The Riverside**; Shine***; Lily Of The Valley**; My Blue Heaven*; Just A Closer Walk; Panama Rag.
Jeremy Huggett - Clarinet, Saxes & Vocals*; Graham Trevarton - Cornet, Trumpet & Vocals**; Ron Milford - Trombone & Vocals***; Ron Berry - Drums; John Whitlock - Banjo & Guitar; Tony Mann - Bass & Tuba.
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After their formation in July 2005, Dart Valley Stompers have quickly become established as a band to be reckoned with and also attracted quite a following.
Just a glance of the tunes selected is confirmation that the band will be
producing the genre of Jazz to match their objective to play top class New Orleans and Traditional Jazz and after listening to the opening tracks of this, their first recorded session, it is more than obvious that the objective has been achieved with style.
There are many excellent solo renditions throughout, not surprising considering the pedigree of the individual musicians. However, what is surprising is the superb ensemble playing for such a new band which, to me indicates just how well have, not only the musicians been selected, but also of how comfortable they are as a unit.
The admirable front line is well backed by a very good rhythm section
resulting in over an hour and a quarter's enjoyable, foot tapping entertainment. I think that "Muskrat ramble" and the title track, "Down by the riverside" epitomises the band's chosen style very well.
An impressive debut C.D. from a band that is surely destined to become very busy in the near future. Recommended as a good buy, telephone 01884 35563 to order a copy.
George Giles
BUY THIS CD ONLINE
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MINNIE THE MERMAID CD - DART VALLEY STOMPERS
Recorded 9.7.06 by David Baker at The Falcon Hotel, Bude.
Total playing time 67m. 13s.
I've Found A New Baby; Sweet Georgia Brown***; All Of Me*; I'll Always Be In Love With You; Minnie The Mermaid**; Collegiate; Whose Honey Are You**; Georgia Camp Meeting; Doctor Jazz ***; When You're Smiling*; I'm Going To Meet My Sweetie Now**; Please Don't Talk About Me*.
Jeremy Huggett - Clarinet, Saxes & Vocals*; Graham Trevarton - Cornet, Trumpet & Vocals**; Ron Milford - Trombone & Vocals***; Ron Berry - Drums; John Whitlock - Banjo & Guitar; Tony Mann - Bass & Tuba.
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This is The Dart Valley Stompers second C.D. recorded almost exactly a year after their formation and what a tremendous birthday present they have prepared for their, now legion of, fans throughout the South West and beyond.
Again the tunes selected and, more importantly the interpretation and presentation of those tunes, is confirmation that the band do produce the genre of Jazz to match their objective to play top class New Orleans and Traditional Jazz.
There are twelve tracks on this C.D. each one an entertaining foot tapping experience with many excellent solo instrumental and vocal renditions throughout. Also, not surprisingly, the ensemble playing is superb.
I thoroughly enjoyed this C.D. with, as far as I'm concerned, twelve tracks that defy me to pick out a favourite, they're all great.
A very impressive second C.D. from a band that is becoming very popular and busy, don't miss an opportunity to see them live. If you're not able to see the band then listen to them on this excellent C.D. Minnie The Mermaid that is recommended as a good buy,
especially if you like happy foot tapping entertaining Jazz.
Telephone 01884 35563 to order a copy.
George Giles
BUY THIS CD ONLINE
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To say many thanks for a great evening.
Louise
Preston Conservative Club Paignton - Beer Festival Weekend
7th March 2008
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Just wanted to say a huge ‘thank you’ for playing at my Father’s Memorial Reception at the Palace Hotel last Thursday (28th February 2008). The family had wanted the occasion to be as much of a celebration of Dad’s life as was possible and you certainly helped us achieve our objective with your tremendous performance – I know he would have loved it.
The rest of the family join with me in saying how grateful we were for your contribution to the day and in wishing you all the best in the future.
Thanks again.
Best Wishes,
Sarah (Bolton)
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Dear Maria, Jeremy and the band,
Thank you so much for a fabulous evening last Thursday (17th January 2008). Everyone enjoyed it a lot and we have had loads of good feedback. They thought your band was the best we have had in the ten months of the club. See you in Norton Grange.
Janet & Geoff (Organisers of Verwood Jazz Club)
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Dear Maria,
We thought you and the band might like these small reminders (2 photo's enclosed) of what for us was a big day, made even more memorable by the stompers.
With kind regards
Claire & Tony Bodinetz
60th Birthday Party - Northam November 2007
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Hi both,
Re: Rail Ale Trail Train on 29.6.07
Just a very quick email to say that I have just received in the post
some of the feedback forms from last week's music train and loads of
people said they had a fab time and that the band was great...so just
wanted to pass that on and to say thanks!
Best wishes
Rebecca
Rebecca Catterall
Development Officer
Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership
01752 233094
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BUDE JAZZ CLUB 2007
Review by Paul Mayor
On a wet and windy night, I battled along sodden pathways to the Falcon determined not to miss this performance by the Dart Valley Stompers. Due to me being a wee bit crook when they first appeared at our club last July, I missed seeing them and have been regretting it ever since as all those who did attend gave the band great wraps. So rather damp I sat down to hopefully witness a superb performance.
I did not have to wait long to realise this band was going to live up to it’s reputation as the opening number, the ODJB’s At The Jass Band Ball, was played full pelt with all of them in total sync. Right throughout the evening the band’s rhythm section consisting of the excellent banjoist John Whitlock, the ever dependable drummer Ron Berry and the fine bassist Tony Mann on both string bass and tuba, drove the band along with a wonderful tempo which had the front line bouncing to the beat. It made you want to get up and bounce also, it was that contagious. It seemed to bring out the best in them as I have seldom heard Graham Trevarton play better on his trusty cornet, just occasionally changing to trumpet. Ron Milford’s trombone was a delight especially when growling the blues and leader Jeremy Huggett on clarinet and tenor played some superb solos throughout the performance, which was full of punch ‘n’ bounce!
After that first number which set the tone for the evening, they continued with the old number Going To New Orleans followed by the Fats Waller masterpiece Ain’t Misbehavin’ with the vocal supplied by leader Jeremy. A rarely heard piece from 1919 followed in Blues (My Naughty Sweetie Gave To Me) with the vocal duties this time taken on by Ron Milford. The old Redwing followed this which in turn was followed by the old Walter Donaldson classic from 1927 My Blue Heaven. Tony took up the tuba on this one and included was a great solo break on tenor sax by Jeremy. The set closed out with Minnie the Mermaid (no, not the Moocher!) where Graham gave his vocal chords an airing. A great first bracket and the band then took a well deserved drinks break.
There are some bands that tend to ease off after the first interval, but not this one as they soon got back into the groove with Sidney Bechet’s I Found a New Baby. They then announced a brolly parade number to the old 1925 piece Collegiate. Not a number associated with New Orleans Parade marches, but the band converted this one to the correct tempo quite well. Haven Gillespie’s Whose Honey Are You? followed on then came Ada Rubin’s composition Fair and Square (originally made popular by Fats Waller). Next up was a rarely played piece from 1926 called Candy Lips before the band closed out the second set with Fred Fisher’s When You’re Smiling.
The calling of the dreaded raffle numbers took place as usual during the second interval when the band (minus Ron Berry) fronted the bar. I thought Ron was just keen to get on with it but he had bought tickets and was too busy checking them to bother doing that! Well Ron, you’re just like me, out of luck. Stick to playing drums I say.
So onto the final set which began with another brolly parade number, the old American Civil War martial piece Marching Through Georgia. The band slowed down for the next one and in real sombre style played the old Fred Meinken/Dave Ringle classic Wabash Blues. Many bands play this number medium or even fast paced, but this was real slow. Irving Berlin’s 1928 smoothie Marie was played in fine form with a vocal by Ron Milford then we had Hoagy Carmichael’s popular number Lazy Bones in which Graham supplied the vocal and also which had an excellent tenor solo by Jeremy. Would you believe it, a third brolly number then appeared with the Paul Barbarin 1949 composition Bourbon Street Parade. Jelly Roll Morton’s Wolverine Blues (played a bit faster than the norm) preceded the final number of the evening which Sam Stept’s Please Don’t Talk About Me When I’m Gone. I’m afraid that is what people will be doing though, talking about this fine band who gave us so much entertainment and enjoyment. Don’t be strangers now!
See you around the gigs…
Paul
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JAZZ AT THE PALACE 2006
Having heard their debut C.D. I had no hesitation in booking the DART VALLEY STOMPERS
to appear at a residential Jazz weekend in The Palace Hotel, Paignton in March 2006.
They repaid my confidence with a great evening's entertainment and received a standing ovation.
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JAZZ AT THE ORANGE
Jazz At The Orange is a small intimate Jazz Club with a very knowledgeable audience who
appreciate a good band. The DART VALLEY STOMPERS were tremendous on their first visit
in 2006 and have been re-booked for a return visit in 2007.
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Cheddar Valley Jazz Club
Newsletter No 96
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Hon Sec Richard Borley
1 Wavering Down Rise,
Shute Shelve,
Axbridge, BS26 2JJ
01934 - 733336
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Dear Members,
The Dart Valley Stompers
It was the first visit of the Dart Valley Stompers to the club but their exciting performance ensured that they will return in the future.
Setting out their programme with a rousing "At the Jazz Band Ball" they moved on to "Way Back Home in Indiana" which gave the cornet player trumpeter Graham Trevarton the vocal. Leader and reeds player of class, Jeremy Huggett sang "All of Me" and the band continued with "I've Always Been in Love With You".
Hoagy Carmichael's "Lazybones" was introduced by John Whitlock's fine guitar playing before the band moved on to the classic cake walk of "At A Georgia Camp Meeting". "When You're Smiling" set the feet tapping and was followed by Graham Trevarton's vocal on the old time number "Whose Honey Are You", the band closing the set with trombonist Ron Milford in full flow on "Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gave to Me".
Fresh from their break the band launched into a spirited "Bugle Boy March", Fats Waller featured with "Ain't Misbehavin" and a change of tempo produced the much enjoyed spiritual "Lily of the Valley". A University theme was represented by the stately "Collegiate March" before the cheery tune "Going Down to New Orleans" again had the band romping along before they turned all romantic and coy in "Fair and Square in Love".
Graham Trevarton sang "Minnie the Mermaid" to great audience merriment followed by the more sombre "Just a Closer Walk With Thee". Kid Ory featured with the classic "Muskrat Ramble" before Graham Trevarton regaled the audience with many amusing verses of "Oh, I Loved Her in the Morning". Just as well the band then went into "I've Found a New Baby", and "I'm Going to Meet My Sweetie Now" before finishing up the evening with "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone".
A hugely successful evening from a great band.
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