Summertime Jazz

Both the Edinburgh and Marlborough Jazz Festivals fell conveniently in the space of one week, allowing us to field almost full houses in terms of band personnel.

In Marlborough, Pond:Life was invited to play for the Festival opening on the Friday night, followed by a two-hour session in the garden of the Royal Oak Hotel. The band's CD sold well, partly due to Jack H-S's ability to extract money from the many passers by!

On the Saturday at lunch-time, it was the Thundering Herd's turn to shine by playing on the Big New Road bandstand, set up like an Italian Piazza. The regulars were strengthened by ex-bandsmen and women - Milly H on her trombone, James O on trumpet and Tom E on Tenor sax. It is always nice to have our old members joining us for a session. An interesting programme was presented to a large appreciative audience and the highlight for me was former Head Boy, Rory R, wowing the crowds with his marvellous Gene Krupa impression in Benny Goodman's Sing Sing Sing.

Moving on to Edinburgh, the Thundering Herd was billed in the programme as Farleigh High School Band and scheduled for two appearances in the Tron Kirk Jazz Club which is situated on the Royal Mile. Both performances were played to a big crowd and on the Thursday, to a capacity crowd, where the children put up what can only be described as a blistering performance. It was magical.

In addition to busking sessions, the Herd was invited onto the premier Royal Mile pitch by the street entertainers and the finale of this was one of them trying to escape from a strait-jacket and another juggling fire stick to the Herd's playing of Mission Impossible.

With thanks to Marcus Reeves, Director of Music, for his brilliant organisation and to all the families taking part for being so supportive of both bands' endeavours.

Chuff Byrne


The renowned Pond:Life Busking on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Farleigh at Marlborough Edinburgh Jazz Festival An appreciative audience at the Tron Kirk Jazz Club, Edinburgh