The Jazz Café Band

John Baraclough

On a sunny Sunday in early April the Jazz Café Band’s entertained us with another stunning performance at the Lochranza Hotel. Not only were nearly all of the sextet’s loyal groupies present, but many local residents and vistors too. They received a great reception and plenty of appreciative applause. As always, the band’s signature number “Mama don’t allow no …” generated audience participation, if a little muted compared to other venues.

Saturday 23rd April dawned a little dreich and we wondered if the scheduled performance at the Lamlash Co-op would take place. However, we arrived and there they were giving it laldy to another appreciative crowd. On this occasion, being reduced to a quintet by the absence of their clarinet player, the programme was changed a little, but still as good as ever.

Your next chance to hear the swinging six will be at the Kildonan Hotel on the evening of Friday May 6th, starting at 8.00 pm. Come and hear Biff belting out the blues, before she gets discovered and famous. Before you know it, your grandkids will be saying, ‘You heard Biff Grey? Like, you mean, live? Wow.’

Another date for your diary is Tuesday 19th July, when the band will be playing aboard the paddle steamer Waverley as she plys her way from Brodick up the ‘Clyde Fjords’ – to the 15th Century Tower House of Carrick Castle. The cruise leaves Brodick at 11:30 and returns at 18:20.