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Article in Newbury Weekly News September 19th
And the band played on
Pete Allen Jazz Band at Donnington Valley Hotel on Sunday, September 8
Review by DEREK ANSELL
WHAT’S this? The Pete Allen Band without Pete? That’s a bit like strawberries without cream or Ant without Dec surely? It happened our leader went off on holiday and sent the latest seven -piece edition of the band for this month’s Newbury gig. Trombonist Roger Marks slipped on the leader’s hat and kicked off with Ain’t She Sweet, featuring James Clemas at the keyboard, also as vocalist, and himself on choppy trombone. The next selection was the less well known Give Me Your Telephone Number by JC Higginbottom, a composer and trombone player that Marks thought had the right sort of name for playing that instrument. This was, of course, an opportunity for the band to play a different repertoire and they took advantage of it, first with a piano feature for Clemas on I’m Confessin ’ and then by venturing into bop territory to play the Sonny Rollins’ calypso St Thomas. This one bounced along very well, proving there isn’t that much difference in mainstream jazz styles. Pete Allen though, might have jumped out of his seaside deck chair if he’d heard it.
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Next was A Kiss To Build A Dream On, which took us back to New Orleans on a composition that Louis Armstrong liked and played frequently.
The second half offered more variety with the band playing It’s Only A Paper Moon and Isle of Capri where drummer Jim Newton turbo charged the Latin rhythm. Veteran guitarist Max Brittain gave a very fine, lyrical reading of The Nearness Of You as his solo. Later he managed to make the banjo sound good. Then there was another selection that entered into modern jazz territorl. Chris Hodgkins did well on his trumpet features, first with I Can’t Get Started and later with Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Lady. Trevor Whiting featured as the reed soloist on liquid clarinet and tenor sax and James Hanratty kept the pulse steady on bass guitar. At the end a sturdy Jambalaya gave solo space to the front- line horn players, who also came up with some neat three- part harmony on this afternoon concert and Jim Newton who contributed a sparkling drum solo. I wouldn’t say you were not missed Pete, but it was an interesting change of programme.
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Pete Allen Newsletter October 2024
Welcome to the October Newsletter.
Monday 7th October, The Pete Allen Jazz Band – The Conservative Club, Radway Place, Sidmouth, EX10 8TL 3pm to 5:30pm. Admission £17.50
Sunday 13th October, The Pete Allen Jazz Band -The Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa, Old Oxford Road, Donnington, Newbury, RG14 3AG 2.30pm to 5pm. Admission £17.50. With Andy Dickens (trumpet) and Denny Ilett Jnr (guitar)
Thursday 17th October, Dorchester Arts Centre, High East Street, Dorset DT1 1HF. Pete Allen with Mike Denham (piano) and Speakeasy. doors and bar 7pm, showtime 7:30pm tickets £15 and £17
Tickets: https://www.dorchesterarts.org.uk/2024/08/01/thurs-17-october-mike-denham-speakeasy-joined-by-pete-allen/
Friday 18th October, Minehead Social Club, North Road, Somerset. Pete’s solo music show. 7.30pm to 10pm. Tickets and further info, tel: Ray on 01643 704903
Thursday 24th October, The Old Picture House, Harbour Road,Seaton, Devon, EX12 2LZ. Showtime – 3pm to 5.30pm. Pete Allen Jazz Band with special guests Three Good Men featuring Nick White (clarinet/saxes) – £17.50 at the door – tel: 07899 925194
Please don’t forget you can purchase my CD’s and my autobiography, “On the Beat” at all the gigs or email Jane (from Newbury) for copies: nana.macgregor@btinternet.com
The band is back at the Pizza Express on Wednesday 27th November 2024
Tickets: https://www.pizzaexpresslive.com/whats-on/pete-allen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lkroVMbIhs
If you know of anyone who would like to be on the emailing list for future events please email me at this address: allenpete886@gmail.com
Further details of the Pete Allen Band at: https://peteallenjazz.com/
I look forward to seeing you at one of the gigs
Best wishes
Pete
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