So where did 2025 go?

It is alarming how time flies once one is past about fifty (as this band’s members rather tend to be). Most of 2025 seems to have evaporated in a flash, and we are now contemplating our last gig of the year, with the 2026 schedule fast approaching.

We won’t forget the first gig of this year in a hurry, to be sure! Heavy snow saw us arriving in Sherborne for a concert at The Cheap Street Church, initially with only half a dozen shivering audience members, and a band reduced to a mere five-piece. Fortunately, the audience soon expanded and warmed up, though the band remained as a five-piece … however, the ODJB managed with five players in 1916, so we had no excuse!

The following month saw us in Broadmayne, on Mike Denham’s very doorstep, so he was able to fulfil a lifetime’s ambition by bringing his grand piano to the gig on a wheelbarrow. Needless to say, he was surrounded by adoring local fans, so the rest of us were reduced to something of a mere support act. 

Not so at our two-day stint at Sinah Warren, at one of Pete Lay’s ‘Jazz Parties’ - another in his series of band-packed residential long weekends, which are so enjoyable for both audience and bands alike. As ever, the dancing was of a high standard, and so indeed were food and accommodation on Hayling Island, which we always find well worth the long drive.

It was great to have Julia Titus (aka Ma Bessie) back with us as our guest vocalist at the Cheap Street Church in Sherborne in May. She’s a terrific performer, and a great (and long-standing)  friend of the band - not to mention a star attraction for the fine Sherborne audience. As always, we thoroughly enjoyed having a virtual Bessie Smith to play along with!

Two fine Jazz Clubs within our ‘territory’ both seem to be thriving right now, thanks to dynamic leadership and sterling support. We enjoyed a good session in the modern church setting of St Michael’s in Galmington, with an enthusiastic audience and a welcome guest appearance by Tom Whittingham on sousaphone, and also another great session at Dalwood, the club headed by the ever-energetic Tina, who certainly gave Mike a run for his money in a four-handed boogie duet. Impressive stuff!

October has seen us at Gussage All Saints’ Annual Jazz Supper since time immemorial - over 20 years, in fact. Sadly, support for the event has finally dwindled below a viable level, and the wonderful group of organisers are calling it a day. We had a great, though poignant, final session here - the home-cooking (and especially the sausages) will remain in the band’s collective memory forever … Happy memories indeed … “and Gee, Ain’t The Gravy Good!” …

Two flourishing Arts Centres - one at Ilminster and the other in Dorchester - were both kind enough to invite us back yet again to inflict further punishment on their fine audiences, so we could hardly refuse. Ilminster Arts always manages to run an impressive, eclectic programme through the year, and we’ve enjoyed many a visit there over several years. 

Similarly, at Dorchester Arts in the Corn Exchange, audiences can enjoy an enticing mix of visiting performers within a fine theatre setting, complete with raked seating, a spacious stage, proper lighting, a Green Room (no less!) - and more. For this concert, we were lucky enough to bring back Marlene Hill to join us, and it was great to be able to accompany some of her favourite numbers which we don’t usually perform ourselves. She’s a very versatile vocalist, equally at home with jazz and musical theatre songs, though probably at her best (we think!) in the gospel repertoire - after all, she does front her own Soul Band!    

Fortunately, there was no shortage of power at that concert (either in the vocal or the electrical sense), but at the annual All-Weather Fete at Donhead St Andrew a sudden, irreparable power outage meant an early end to our Glorious Leader’s virtuosic piano performance, so he had to join the audience and listen to the rest of us working hard. Not only did he have to endure merciless banter from the band, but was forced to abandon - oh, so reluctantly - an audience request for a Winifred Atwell medley … next year, perhaps!

Our other ‘food gig’ of the year (like Gussage, above) was at Bishopstone, near Salisbury. Owing to the demands of Frome Symphony (and fine chaps like Dvorak and Sibelius) we had no trombone for this one, so - once again - in stepped the redoubtable Tim Heming - not on trombone, you understand, but in his role as our ‘whenever-available’ bassist. He’s helped us out on several occasions this year, and invariably does a great job, as he did on this occasion.

Throughout the year, of course, come what may, through fire and flood, hail and snow - even a heatwave this year - there is our monthly session at The Ropemakers in Bridport keeping us afloat, like a strong thread binding the year’s activities … apologies, our Blogger is getting carried away here, but it is the highpoint of every month, and Geraldine and her hard-working team - not to mention our audience of regulars (and indeed occasionals!) - never fail to make us feel very welcome. And it’s not just the Sunset Cafe Stompers, because ‘Ropeys’ hosts live music throughout the week - there can’t be many pubs doing that! - and thoroughly deserves your support. If you’re within striking distance, check out their music (and food and drink!) menu and trot on down there - you won’t be disappointed!

Thanks, everyone, for your support throughout 2025!