Here’s a quote from the Magazine of Music & Drama (Philadelphia, 1891): “The banjo has a positive musical charm in the country; its half-barbaric twang is in harmony with the unmechanical melody of the birds – it belongs to the same orchestra as the romantic cowbell. On the verandah, by the lake of a moonlight night, at the barn-dance or on a hay-ride, it is a companion full of delightful possibilities, sending out its lusty notes in a charmingly stimulating way”. So, if a little charming stimulation is what you need at the Festival, best hie yourself along to Banjorama, chaired as always by the imperturbable Derek Fleck who will direct the various combinations and permutations of six virtuoso pickers (and certainly not half-barbaric twangers!) from the ranks of the Festival bands, with representatives from four different countries.

Bent Persson is possibly the best interpreter in the world of the music of Louis Armstrong. His recordings of Louis’ 1927 “Fifty Hot Choruses For Cornet” for the Swedish Kenneth label remains the definitive version of this near-legendary work, and in 2007 he recreated for us the Hot Five and Hot seven recordings with great heat and passion. In his two 2009 concerts, however, he will be concentrating on the mid-period of Armstrong’s recording career, from 1929 to 1938 – a sadly and inexplicably neglected period in Louis’ artistic development. His playing at this time was truly majestic, as he fronted a series of big bands which included many great Harlem and New Orleans musicians. Here, Bent will have a specially-selected International all-star ten-piece band behind him as he recreates the soaring glory of Louis’ trumpet in all its mature splendour, playing the great numbers from the golden age of American song-writing.

Back by overwhelming popular demand!! When, just a year ago, I popped the Chicago Stompers demo CD in the player, their sheer vigour, originality and authenticity of sound really knocked me off my feet. The band, ten strong, have an average age of just 24 (the youngest being a mere 17) but they tear into the music of the nineteen-twenties not just with the contagious enthusiasm one might expect from youth, but with an authenticity of sound that is quite astonishing. Not only that, but the choice of repertoire is refreshingly varied, with the expected items from Ellington, Henderson and Whiteman but also from bands like Paul Howard’s Quality Serenaders, Gene Goldkette and Roger Wolfe Kahn. On top of all this, they feature nifty arrangements by leader Mauro Porro, and in Elena Paganuzzi they have a lovely songthrush who can really put ‘em over in style. Do not miss them!