Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band. Jazz painting commissioned by Dave Rance.

I got to talking to Dave Rance the very first time I went to one of his Rockin’ Chair Band’s gigs. Dave is as colourful a character as jazz band leaders come, and his contagious vitality and exuberance is reflected in his band’s performances. I had asked if I could take a number of photographs of the band and when I showed him samples of my jazz portraits, not only did he agree, but he commissioned a jazz painting of the band.

Dave describes his Bedfordshire based band as “a little different from the usual jazz bands, often amusing but always entertaining!” And that it most certainly is. Their performance of “Me and Jane in a Plane” is a sight to behold with “Captain” Brian Webb in pilot’s gear diving and zooming on trombone.

Dave himself, phosphorescently attired as the “Earl of Flitwick” in a multi coloured waistcoat that would put Joseph’s dream coat to shame, gives live wire performances on trumpet, cornet and flugel horn besides slipping in the odd vocal.

Then there’s Derek “Green Fingers” Scofield on sax and clarinet, Henry “Asbo” Harrison of erstwhile “Winchester Cathedral” Gold Disc fame on drums, “Reverend” Mike Brewerton on bass, Doug “Hari Kari” Parry on banjo and John “Prince of Darkness” Bartlett who plays a wild guitar.

My acrylic jazz painting of the band simply had to be in the style of a caricature and when I presented it to Dave he immediately had a quantity of prints made to publicise the band, but that’s as it should be.

Dave Rance can be contacted on: 01525 712359 / 07714 766158; or by email at: [email protected]

Hand signed, fine art prints of my jazz painting of “Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band” can be purchased in two sizes:

A4 (297x210mm) £29.00
A3 (420x297mm) £39.00

A Certificate of Authenticity is issued with each print. If you would like to purchase a print or an original acrylic portrait or to commission a portrait, please email me at: [email protected]

"Bob Thomas on Trumpet" Acrylic jazz portrait commission by Peter M Butler.

I chose Hertfordshire based Bob Thomas & The Thomcats amongst the first group of bands to feature on JazzandJazz.com not only because Bob is a good friend who lives in the same village as me, but because he has a jazz pedigree reaching way back.

Bob purchased a trumpet from Pat Halcox, Chris Barber’s trumpeter, who gave him private lessons. To this day Bob laments the theft of that trumpet from his car, especially as it was a Doc Severinson. In those early days Bob played with a number of top bands and rubbed shoulders with the likes of Acker Bilk and Terry Lightfoot. He featured regularly on Thames jazz cruises at Windsor and Maidenhead, mainly with Len’s Seattle Six band. The tales he has to tell about those cruises are classics.

Bob Thomas, trumpet, Tim Curtis, sousaphone, and Gordon Rushden, trombone, at a gig at The Long Arm & Short Arm in Lemsford, Hertfordshire. (Jazz Photo by P.M.Butler)

Bob recently celebrated his 80th birthday and like so many jazz musicians he is still going strong. He formed The Thomcats in 2000 since when they have entertained thousands with the pizzazz, rhythm and harmony of their “happy jazz”.

Their repertoire swings along to very best of New Orleans and Trad Jazz through to contemporary favourites. Their numbers include masterpieces by great composers and performers such as Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, Count Basie and Duke Ellington – plus compositions by George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Hoagy Carmichael and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

My wife and I are pleased to have produced a brochure and flyer for The Thomcats using a selection of my jazz photographs taken as reference material for my jazz portraits of Bob on trumpet, his drummer Pat, banjo player Roger and Tim on sousaphone.

You can reach Bob by email at: [email protected]

Download the PDF brochure: Bob Thomas & The Thomcats

Hand signed, fine art prints of my Art & Verse jazz portrait of Bob Thomas can be purchased in two sizes:

A4 (297x210mm) £29.00
A3 (420x297mm) £39.00

A Certificate of Authenticity is issued with each print. If you would like to purchase a print or an original acrylic portrait or to commission a portrait, please email me at: [email protected]

Sammy Rimington Jnr shoulder to shoulder with his famous father in a concert with his New Orleans All Star Band at Chilham, Kent, on 6 February, 2010. (Photo by P.M.Butler, Art&Verse)

Back in 1959 Sammy Rimington played with Barry Martyn’s band. His spectacular jazz career as a professional musician with Ken Colyer’s band started in 1960. In those years my lifelong friend Roger followed his gigs in Kent so when Sammy was booked to appear with his International Jazz Band at the 2008 Ken Colyer Trust Hemsby Autumn Jazz Festival in Norfolk, it didn’t take much persuading for me to join Roger at the festival.

Since then I’ve made a point of keeping up with Sammy, who now lives in Sweden, and his International Jazz Band during their UK winter tours. His concerts of Hymns and Spirituals in the New Orleans Style at Folkestone’s United Reformed Church have been nothing short of inspirational and his Trad Jazz gigs at Chilham Village Hall always pack in the fans.

Trefor Williams on bass, Eric Webster on banjo, Emile van Pelt on piano, Frederic John on trombone and Keith Minter on drums are all jazz virtuosos in their own right but to quote The New York Times: “Sammy Rimington’s playing demonstrates the clarinet’s matchless range of funky virtuosity, which makes jazz’s past as real as its future.”

And indeed, Sammy is every bit as dedicated to the future of jazz as he is to continually surpassing his own brilliance. I witnessed this for myself at the 2008 Hemsby Festival when he invited emerging star Amy Roberts, then barely 19, onto the stage to accompany him in a saxophone duet. The next morning I overheard him stressing the need to to persuade Amy to stay with jazz: “Amy’s got a natural talent and feel for the music. She’s got rhythm. She’s the future of jazz.”

Some accolade from a legend of jazz who has performed with Louis Nelson, Big Jim Robinson, Chris Barber, Kid Thomas Valentine and Captain John Handy.

I count it a privilege to have painted a portrait of Sammy in duet with Amy and indeed, portraits of each member of the International Jazz Band. Trefor Williams paid me a huge compliment:

“What a pleasant surprise to receive your portrait of me. I’m very flattered that you considered me a worthy subject. Thank you for devoting your time and talent. It’s a very thoughtful study and the words are very touching. May God continue to bless you and your very special gift”

Sammy Rimington’s website is at: http://www.sammyrimington.com

You can listen to Sammy and explore some of his music at: http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x20zvy_burgundy-street-blues-sammy-rimingt_music

"Eyes on the Master" - portrait of Sammy in duet with rising star Amy Roberts.

Hand signed, fine art prints of the Art & Verse jazz portrait of Amy and Sammy can be purchased in two sizes:

A4 (297x210mm) £29.00
A3 (420x297mm) £39.00

A Certificate of Authenticity is issued with each print. If you would like to purchase a print or an original acrylic portrait or to commission a portrait, please email me at: [email protected]