Reporter: Tony Sheldon
Date online: 12/06/2008

A rare visit to Rochdale of the Geordie Rae Brothers Band was savoured by all those traditionalists who enjoy the original dreamy south sounds that drifted out of New Orleans in the early years of the 20th century. Guesting on bass was Antipodean Yorkshire lass Annie Hawkins and interpretive drummer Jackie Denton who is as Geordie as you have’em!

Led by Dave Rae on banjo and Mac Rae on clarinet who both shared the vocals. The front line was completed by quiet man Jim Blenkin on trombone and not so quiet man, the ebullient Peter Wright on cornet accompanied by his mutes of many sizes.

Vocals were certainly in predominance. Dave Rae started the ball rolling with "My Bucket’s got a hole in it", "Nickelodeon", "Happy Samba", "Royal Telephone" and "Ice Cream" – quite a motley selection. Whilst Mac Rae lubricated his tonsils with "Drunk Again Blues", "Lily of the Valley", "Don’t Sweetheart Me", "My Little Girl", "San Antone Rose" and “Little Ole Wine Drinker Me" – variety all round.

Hawkins exuberance shone through with 'slap' skills in "Shake it and Break It", accompanied by the muted cornet contortions of Wright. "Amasola" brought out the clarinet expertise of Mac Rae with Hawkins’ bow bass in tandem. Denton provided a neat drum interlude breaking up Mac Rae’s version of "Second Line".

Blenkin was given a trombone solo opportunity in "Far Away Blues" with Wrights one handed cornet play providing a nice blend.

We had been entertained by Rags, Spirituals and Standards. The brothers had fused their voices together for "Over in the Gloryland" and they then both led the way with often requested New Orleans funeral parade number "Didn’t he Ramble" as the slow musical strains built up to a crescendo and we all disappeared into the night hoping to be still rambling along when they travel south again.

The Rae Brothers Band
The Broadfield Hotel
Sunday 26 March 2006