Steyning Jazz Club welcomes Spats Langham’s Five Nickels

Steyning Jazz Club welcomes Spats Langham’s Five Nickels on Friday, September 4, promising “five talented musicians who bring to life the music and irresistible syncopated rhythms of the 1920s and 30s, together with the subtle nuanced vocals of the period.”

The band line-up for the evening will be: Tom ‘Spats’ Langham, guitar and banjo; Trevor Whiting, reeds; Richard Pite, tuba, bass and drums; Rico Tomasso, trumpet; and Martin Litton, piano.

Club spokesman Colin Jilks said: “With the loss of the outstanding pianist, Keith Nichols, in January 2021, remembered for his peerless interpretation of ragtime and Fats Waller style stride piano, these Five Nickels musicians have come together to keep his memory and music alive with jazz from the period, played with the utmost authenticity and virtuosity.

“Thomas ‘Spats’ Langham spent his childhood in Buxton and, inspired by his grandfather, started playing the ukulele as soon as his young fingers could press the strings, followed by the banjo at the aged of ten. By 14 he was appearing with the Hot Spa Stompers and Ged Hones Dixie Boys, who encouraged him to start guitar.

“One of the finest vintage reeds players in the country is Trevor Whiting who initially learnt tenor horn in a school brass band, but at the age of eleven heard recordings of New Orleans clarinettist Sidney Bechet and immediately decided to switch instruments taking up clarinet and saxophone.

“Enrico Tomasso started playing the trumpet at the tender age of five after listening to Louis Armstrong playing Basin Street Blues. His father, clarinettist Ernie Tomasso, was particularly encouraging, taking him to meet many of the American jazz greats when they visited England. The most telling meeting was perhaps with Louis Armstrong, for whom he played, at the age of seven, during Louis’ later visits to England in 1968 and 1969.

“Martin Litton's piano playing style has been particularly influenced by the likes of Jelly Roll Morton, Willie ‘The Lion’ Smith and Teddy Wilson. An early career breakthrough came through playing with Kenny Ball on his British and Russian tours and for recording sessions with George Chisholm. His knowledge of the styles and the historical development of jazz, including Dixieland, is outstanding.

“Richard Pite is a drummer who has specialised in the jazz styles of the 1920s and 30s. He also runs the Jazz Repertory Company which presents several concerts every year in London, celebrating the great music and musicians of jazz history.”

Admission charges remain at £15 for non-members, £10 for members. Tickets for the concert need to be pre-booked at www.wegottickets.com, enter "Steyning" in search box. For those unable to book online, team member Lindsay Buchanan will accept emails at [email protected] or phone 07855 693356. The show begins at 8pm. Steyning Jazz Club meets at The Steyning Centre, Fletcher’s Croft, Steyning. BN44 3XZ. More information from Colin Jilks on 01903 810395.