Alan Barnes has appeared at all ‘Jazz on a Winter’s Weekend’ festivals since we began in 2005. (We are, for sure, not the only festival which can claim likewise). As well as his peerless musicianship and affable manner, his writing and arranging skills and boundless creative energy have ensured a succession of projects and recordings that have entertained and captivated jazz audiences. One of his early arranging gems was a 1998 Zephyr CD “A Dotty Blues” which contained 14 evergreen melodic classics, exquisitely arranged and played. Dave Gelley’s sleeve notes were equally perceptive. One paragraph stands out. “The only thing a 16 piece band can do that an eight or nine can’t is to put up a wall of sound. Paradoxically a small band can actually produce a greater range of sounds than a big one.” These arrangements really prove that point. Those musicians appearing tonight who were on the original recording are Gerard Presencer, Mark Nightingale, Steve Brown and, of course, Alan himself