On 19-21 October I attended the - unfortunately "Final" William Shakespeare Jazz 'n' Swing Festival in Kenilworth, England. Music was first class, just like at the previous one I attended in 2016. A wonderful array of stars, in particular in the reeds department: Amy Roberts, Richard Exall, Trevor Whiting, Karl Hird, Sarah Spencer, and Pete Allen. Not that the others were slouches, far from it, but reeds win by sheer number.
The guitarist Jim Douglas (of Alex Welsh fame) has been an internationally acclaimed star for many years. Gary Wood may not be as well known as Alan Bateman, but if does not mean he is not as good.
Allen Beechey failed to appear and was replaced by Jonathan Graham, who also played some excellent guitar. The two trombonists - Mike Pointon and Ian Bateman were both very good, and the former shared with us his memories of Ken Colyer in a programme titled Ken Colyer, Bill Russell and the New Orleans Revival.
All programmes were good, whether they paid tribute to the Hot Club de France, BG, the Creole clarinetists. Hogay, Bix & Bing, or Satchmo, Bechet and Fats (the latter featured the Bateman Brothers with
Pete Allen).
Three shows were not dedicated to any specific stars – the Remarkable Reeds (with
