Jive Aces at Twinwood

The Jive Aces played a lively set during in an afternoon slot that might have been hard to get the crowd going. They had no such trouble though, playing with high energy and plenty of visual gimmicks. AT first I didn’t think I’d review them because I thought they’d be too slick and swingy for my tastes. But I must admit that I grew into them as the set wore on.

Mack the Knife was standard fare for them and gave them all a chance to show their unquestionable quality. The lead singer was pretty good throughout but really comes in to his own when he does Louis Prima. It’s uncanny how much he can sound like King Louis. I’m Just A Gigalo was brilliant and was followed by a classy cover of Up A Lazy River. During Oh Marie, three of the band got in amongst the crowd and by this stage they had the dancers going full on. They returned to Bobby Darin for a quality reading of Beyond The Sea.


I thought their version of Shake Rattle And Roll was rubbish - too jazzy and showy for me sorry. The band were joined for a couple of songs by Louis Prima and Keely Smith’s daughter Toni Elisabeth Prima, the highlight being Buena Sera. The closer was a wonderful jived up version of Vera Lynn’s We’ll Meet Again. To round off a great afternoon we bumped into Keely Smith who chatted away and was one of the friendliest people you could wish to meet. I stood and watched with her as an old Dakota flew overhead – sometimes life throws you these moments to cherish.

Sam Butera - RIP

Bim Bam sax man, Sam Butera died this week in Las Vegas aged 81. Known to rockers for the fabulous rock 'n' roll laster, Bim Bam, he is probably known to the wider world for being an intrigal part of the Louis Prima sound. Prima, Butera and singer Keely Smith were the dymanic front-trio to an amazing show band that slayed audiences across the states for decades. Check out any Louis Prima hits compilations and enjoy the charms that are Jump, Jive & Wail, Just A Gigola, I Ain’t Got Nobody, Angelina or Hey Marie. And when those have sunk in, you're ready for the brilliant Beuno Sera.

Sam Butera was born in New Orleans on August 17th, 1927 and followed in the footsteps of his musical father Joseph. He took up the saxophone when he was 7 and became a professional musician at 14, playing in a strip club on Bourbon Street. At 19 he won a talent contest sponsored by Look magazine, which led to an appearance with other winners from around the country at Carnegie Hall.

He working with the big bands of Ray McKinley, Tommy Dorsey and others before forming his own group at the 500 Club in New Orleans. In December 1954 he joined fellow New Orleans native Louis Prima, and the rest is history. They formed the Witnesses and started plying the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, a town that was to be their home for the rest of both their lives. Their live shows were legendary, mixing great music and a mass of showmanship, with no small amount of humour.

They worked together until 1975 when Prima fell into a coma following brain surgery, dying three years later. Sam Butera continued to wow audiences, performing the Prima catalogue. He retired in 2004, but not before playing the Rhythm Riot in England. I was lucking enough to be there and it was a great show. I'll never forget all the Italian rockabillies and swingsters, swaying across the dance floor to such anthems as Beuno Sera and Hey Marie.

Sam is survived by his wife Vera, two daughters, two sons, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Rest in peace Sam.