Review by Michelle Cook

AS A precursor to their 70th Anniversary season, Chipping Sodbury Music Society chose to invite The Dime Notes to put on a jazz gig in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall on Friday, September 15 and what an excellent choice that proved to be!

The band, brilliantly led by Andrew Oliver on piano, also featured David Horniblow on clarinet, Tom Wheatley on bass and Dave Kelbie on rhythm guitar.

The hall was packed to hear them play two sets of music by Jelly Roll Morton, WC Handy, Jimmie Noone, Duke Ellington and other greats of the jazz world.

Unforgettable too were the two compositions by Andrew Oliver himself: The band’s adopted theme tune “Ten Cent Rhythm” and “Otis Stomp”, named after the small town Otis in Oregon where Andrew grew up. An interesting fact we learned from him was that a dime is 10 cents, but a dime note is 10 dollars.

Tom Wheatley showcased his outstanding skill on the double base in the Duke Ellington number “Pitter Panther Patter”, in which he emulated Jimmy Blanton’s original performance in the early 1940s.

It was interesting to note that the bow he used during the show was made of Mongolian horse hair – the preferred choice of double bass musicians.

Tom also found “Kentucky Blues”, made famous and recorded by Stanley "Fess" Williams in 1929.

This number featured David Horniblow giving a virtuoso solo performance on clarinet, much appreciated by the enthusiastic audience. The amazing range of the clarinet was shown throughout the evening by this supremely skilled player.

Bix Beiderbecke was one of the great jazz musicians of the 1920s and the Dime Notes performed his “I’m Coming Virginia” allowing Dave Kelbie to demonstrate why he is one of the most sought after rhythm guitarists on the world stage.

The whole evening was a resounding success. All four artists were of truly international class and over 150 jazz enthusiasts were rewarded with a night to remember and cherish. Many were fortunate enough to take home signed copies of the band’s CDs and Vinyls.

  • Chipping Sodbury Music Society’s Gala Concert on Tuesday, October 10 will feature the Amadeus Orchestra directed by Philip Mackenzie performing Handel’s “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba”, Mozart’s “Clarinet Concerto” (Soloist: Claire King) and Handel’s “Water Music”.
  • Tickets are on sale now from ticketsource.co.uk/csmusicsociety or the Box Office on 01454 315741.
  • Further information may be found on the Society’s website at csmusicsociety.co.uk