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

The Old Fashioned Love Band is a crowd pleaser and this was no exception with an evening of the best musicianship and presentation. There has been one chance to the personnel with the retirement of drummer Dave Timmis, replaced by Manchester’s Moe Green one of the best in the business.

Led on vocal and trumpet by Mel Hill the front line is completed by two top liners Mike Turner on reed and Mike Pembroke on trombone.

Banjo and guitarist Jake Reeves has that dreamy voice which lends itself so well to the thirties ballads and he entertained with “My Honey’s Loving Arms”, “I’m Building Up To An Awful Let Down” and “The New Yorker”.

Harry Forelius on the bass, the quiet man, keeps the rhythm section ticking over, giving Moe Green plenty of lee way to let the drums do the talking no more so than in “China Boy”, accompanied by Hill’s vocal of “Perfidia” in a tango/cha-cha arrangement, and Turners vocal and soprano clarinet in a superb “Swing That Music”.

Turners melodic tones whether on clarinet, soprano clarinet or tenor sax are a joy to the ear. He’s support of Hill’s vocal “If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight” on clarinet jamming with Hill and Pembroke in “Counter Revolutionary Blues” and tenor sax drive in “Elephant Stomp” were all up with the best. His vocal with “When I Get Too Old To Dream” in a powerful arrangement was awe inspiring.

Pembroke also vocalists and he started the ball rolling with “When You’re Smiling” led the way with “Wabash Blues”, and a terrific vocal/instrumental solo with “After You’re Gone” – a great varied arrangement with mini solos on banjo and bass.

Hill meanwhile is leading like the ‘captain’ he is with a powerful ‘muted’ performance in Ma Rainey’s “Jelly Bean Blues” vocalising “Aint Goin To Give You None Of My Jelly Roll” (such good English!!?), and a full steam head bash with Barber’s “Salty Dog”.

His own tongue in cheek composition of “Moon Over Burslem” – (he’s a stoke lad). Always brings a smile, as does his soft trumpet tones accompanying reeves vocal and guitar with “Romance”.

Pembroke’s vocal of “Heart Of My Heart” led to a final gospel finish with “Your Gabrielle Likes My Music” – Turner leading on vocal and clarinet and the rest of the band saying their goodbyes come back soon.

April 2008