Last week we went back to the 40s and 50s, this week to the 20s and 30s with the Jake Leg Jug Band.
But first pizzas from the Pizza Box who’d set up shop outside the Muse. Very tasty and well worth wrestling with the online ordering system.
Paul Keddle is our compere and no mean bluesman himself. He opened and joked about murder songs in ‘folk’ then sung his self-penned ‘Take that knife out of my back woman’.
He was later joined by Dave Jackman on mouth organ taking us to the first break.
Jake Leg Jug Band – a 5 piece on the night – including washboard, harmonicas, guitar, double bass, saxes and clarinet. And, spoiler alert, a ‘travel trombone’. Actually a kazoo with a slide! Plus banjo – and saw…
Eventually – as per the band’s name – a jug appears in the instrumental line-up but does not overwhelm. Vocals were shared around but Duncan on bass did the informative and often amusing introductions.
So for instance we learn that Jack Haley, the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz wrote and performed the song ‘I love me (I’m wild about myself)’.
‘Goodbye booze’ is the title track of their album to mark the hundred years since the start of Prohibition. It had been due for release in March 2020, great timing guys!
Over two sets they brought us the authentic sounds of 1920s and 30s America – Jazz, Blues, Gospel, Ragtime. Songs of murder, betrayal, gambling, liquor and redemption. With added double entendre in the Hokum songs.
A full house at the Muse made whoopee.
As ever, many thanks to everyone who turned out to make this such a successful night, to our friends from Brecon Jazz Club for their support, and to everyone at The Muse for their wonderful hospitality.
https://www.thejakelegjugband.com/
Photos by Barry Hill
Review by Nic Groombridge
