A Great Night of Music and Fun!

Sat. night – February 23 – 2008  

Venue:æPeninsula Jazz Club – Melbourne – Aust.

Seems the camaraderie of Jazz lovers through-out the world knows no bounds.

Our overseas visitors, natives of the Netherlands and from literally “out of the woods” of the forests of De Veluwe

 near their hometown of Apeldoorn located in central Holland, were warmly greeted by all in attendance.

Being introduced for the evening by our President, Harry Daniels, as - The Dutch Forest Jazz band.

They had just completed a seemingly whirlwind tour of the Oz Northern States of  Queensland (Gold Coast City Jazz Club, Noosa Jazz Club amongst others) and New South Wales (Newcastle Jazz Club, Gosford and Dubbo Jazz Clubs) and had performed the previous day at the Dutch (Nederlandse) Club in Melbourne to a enthusiastic audience. So on their last night on Australian soil, it was our turn to experience the pleasure that many an International band can give - New Faces – New sounds, etc.

Their reputation preceded them and for those in the know there were no disappointments – quite the opposite actually.

To a gathered crowd of 190 strong, true Jazz lovers, this world renowned band gave our lucky group a “Glimpse of Dutch Jazz” from the other side of the Globe encompassing a Swing-style, with a Dixieland flavour, and just a hint of Trad. which both listeners and dancers alike enjoyed most warmly. What was to follow was an extremely polished professional performance by a very accomplished band of well known throughout Europe and overseas, International musicians.

Opening with a truly patriotic Waltzing Matilda, the band immediately captured the audience’s attention.

An avalanche of pure Jazz numbers soon came – known and loved by all present, beginning with When you’re Smiling. 

At this time the dancers invaded the floor, where most of them were to stay all evening, thoroughly enjoying the night’s reverie. - 

This was quickly followed by - Buddy Bolden’s Blues, (one of the writer’s favorites and spontaneously sung at our table) and immediately followed by - Shine, Sugar, 

Please Don’t Talk About Me, New Orleans, Rosetta, (on request) How come you do Me?

This completed the first set – Wow!

The second set for the evening commenced with - Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen, introduced and sung in his native tongue by Louis Blink / trumpet.

His instrument, by the way, was a resplendent orange colour: the Dutch National Colours. 

Oh how proudly he played and brandished it.

What followed then was a kaleidoscope of true Jazz with tunes like – Tin Roof Blues, Indiana, A Wonderful World – (a wonderful rendition)

Then came what must surely have been one of the highlights of the night.

A piano Boogie duet – (One piano had to suffice as the airlines refused the other as luggage! Much laughter was heard here) with Harald Haverkorn / piano and Raymond Spruijt / banjo / guitar (he is most proficient on both of these instruments and is also surprisingly quite at home behind the keyboard).

It should be said that Harald’s expertise at the pianoforte, is one of consummate ease, with plenty of light and shade in his performances –

 a delight to the ear. Surely one of the best overseas artists we have had the privilege to hear, to see and to meet at our club.

Then came a rather lilting rendition of Petite Fleur by Gerrit Brouwer / clarinet whose performance on the night was extraordinary to say the least. The set finished off with Exactly like You.

Upon enquiring about the origins and setting down of Blue and Sentimental (their first ever recording 1984) I was informed by Ton Bos “That was a hundred years ago, it was recorded on an L.P! - on vinyl”.

they all sung in gay abandon, What a time we had!

Then the entire band joined-up back on the stage, playing such numbers as, Beale street Blues, Blues my Naughty, Bourbon street Parade, Sunny Side of the Street, etc But when it came to the final tune for the evening – Doctor Jazz, cheers of  More! - More! - More!  went up from the enthusiastic audience.The band’s spokesman and leader Ton Bos (Tom) thanked all present for coming to listen and sharing just a few of the band’s experiences on their Aussie tour – such as Kangaroos, Koalas,

and the rain and more rain they had in Queensland etc. He went on to thank most profusely our very much endeared President Harry Daniels and his hard working team for allowing all this to happen.

So then it was over - but oh! what memories of a World Class band, playing in our own back yard! How lucky were we just to be there on the night – what an experience!