SUNSET CAFE STOMPERS

Corn Exchange, Dorchester

YOU can be sure of a full house when local musical celebrity Mike Denham comes on the scene and sure enough, there was barely a seat left in the house for this Speakeasy Special celebrating the 30th anniversary of his sensational jazz band.

With Mike on the piano and six gifted musicians to provide the Stompers back-up, the audience were treated to a superb evening of nostalgia as they enjoyed memories of great artists like Fats Domino, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong.

Beautiful renderings of hits like My Old Kentucky Home, Flip, Flop, Fly and Body and Soul were performed by the mature musicians, all of whom have enviable reputations for past successes in other bands.

Mike’s easygoing mode of leading the group creates an informal and friendly atmosphere among the players who demonstrate that they all know each other’s talents very well as they bring love and happiness to their music.

And then there is Bridport based jazz singer Hamish Maxwell, now in his 80s, who still sends out the right notes in immaculate style, not bad for a man who was the best man at the wedding of Rolling Stones star Ian Stewart back in the good old days of rock ‘n roll.

With their rendering of the classic 1920s hit The Chant, the jazz world of Jelly Roll Morton filled the building along with arrangements from the era of ragtime, swing and blues, a memorable evening indeed.

Mike and the group’s multi-talented clarinettist Trevor Whiting will be appearing at the Tincleton Gallery on 29th and 30th March, an occasion not to be missed.

MARION COX