Capturing Cuff on Trumpet

Jazz Portrait of Cuff Billett on Trumpet

My jazz portrait of Cuff Billett captures him giving a rousing, virtuoso performance with The Lakefront Loungers at the Ken Colyer Trust 2008 Autumn Jazz Parade. Roguish, even eccentric, Cuff is famous for his superb talent and intense, intuitive, warm-toned style.

I completed Cuff’s jazz portrait a while ago but was spurred to display it again due to the interest of a new found American friend whose incredible wealth of knowledge and experience of traditional jazz spans the decades and even goes back to the greats and venues of bygone eras.
Cuff on Trumpet is one of his favourites.

Fine art print of the jazz portrait of Cuff Billett on Trumpet

Cuff Billett on Trumpet

Caressing the high notes
Pitching to low,
A jazz virtuoso
In enrapturing solo.
Improvisation off the cuff.
The trumpeter struts his stuff.

Fine Art Giclée Prints of this portrait can be available, with or without my descriptive poem. Simply email: [email protected]
if you are interested
.

Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle Jazz Portraits

In 2011 I was asked to paint jazz portraits of musicians from local bands booked for Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle for display during the festival. These included:

Fine art print of jazz painting “Trombone and Drums”

Trombone and Drums
Trad at The George, Vocalion style,
Sam on ‘bone, Mark on drums,
Playing with guile,
Good reason for fans to linger a while.

The Vocalion Band, led by Sam Weller, hails from Medway, Kent, and is a favourite with trad jazz fans. In this acrylic jazz portrait Sam is playing alongside drummer Mark Alexander at The George in Shalmsford Street, Chartham.
‘Art & Verse’ Copyright © 2011 Peter M Butler. All rights reserved

A Very Mean Sax. Fine art print of jazz portrait of Ivan Gandon

A Very Mean Sax
Beneath the rim of his familiar cap
Ivan’s won fame
For a very mean sax.
Gandon by name,
A gentleman by nature,
His grit on vocals
Puts the best to shame.

One of jazz’s grand characters, Ivan Gandon plays sax and clarinet with the Medway, Kent, based Vocalion Band led by Sam Weller. This is one of my favourite jazz paintings.
‘Art & Verse’ Copyright © 2011 Peter M Butler. All rights reserved

Fine art print of Jazz Portrait of Gerry Birch

Jazz at The George
Gerry hot wired,
Sousaphone fully fired,
For Jazz at The George
Intense, inspired.

Gerry Birch hails from East Kent where he repairs brass instruments and leads his own band, The Stour Valley Jazzmen. A friendly setting for jazz paintings, The George in Shalmsford Street, Chartham, Kent, is a regular venue for his trad jazz club.
Copyright © 2011 Peter M Butler. All rights reserved

Laurie Palmer, drummer with Burt Butler’s Jazz Pilgrims, commissioned this jazz portrait of him on drums during the festival.

Jazz Portrait of Laurie Palmer on drums with Burt Butler’s Jazz Pilgrims

Drums on the Prom
Bass Drum, Snare Drum,
Cymbals and Tom
Full regalia on the prom
Laurie Palmer takes Stage One.

The jazz drummer is usually obscured back stage behind the trumpets, trombones and saxophones, yet he sets the beat for the band. But playing with Burt Butler’s Jazz Pilgrims harbourside in Ramsgate, Kent, during the 2011 Seaside Shuffle Trad Jazz Festival, for his jazz portrait Laurie Palmer starred front stage, his drum kit on full display.
‘Art & Verse’ Copyright © 2011 Peter M Butler. All rights reserved.

Fine Art Giclée Prints of my portraits are available, with or without my descriptive poem. Simply email: [email protected] to place your order and help support jazz.

Betty Renz Steels the Show

I first met Betty Renz at The Duke of Cumberland in Whitstable, Kent, singing with Burt Butler’s Jazz Pilgrims and she instantly inspired my jazz portrait of her. Back in 2010, Betty was the inspiration and driving force behind “Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle”, a brand new jazz festival launched in July, 2011, and still going strong to this day. 

Jazz Portrait of Betty Renz

Betty Steels the Show

In deepest Kent
At The Duke of C,
Betty steels the show
At the Jazz Jamboree.

Portrait and poem by Peter M Butler.
‘Art & Verse’ Copyright © 2011 Peter M Butler. All rights reserved.

Fine Art Giclée Prints of this portrait are available, with or without my descriptive poem. Simply email: [email protected] to place your order and help support jazz.

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