Celebrating the Joy of Jazz
Always a favourite of the fans, Barry Palser’s Savoy Jazz Band will be back at The Peartree Monday Jazz Club in Welwyn Garden City by popular demand on 21st May. So be sure not to miss out! After all, the light evenings will be with us by then.
Come to that, make a note in your diary for Monday, 18th June as well, when the club will welcome The Ouze Valley Jazz Band with Angela. And that will be close to midsummer! Trad Jazz to kill for!
So jazz fans, that’s two more dates for your diaries.
Jazz Painting of Barry Martyn at London’s 100 Club
Jazz Portrait of New Orleans based jazz great Barry Martyn in characteristic form on drums with his Young Bloods at The 100 Club in Oxford Street in February, 2010. Born in London, Barry moved to the USA in the early 1960s and has been a key figure in the revival of New Orleans Jazz since 1984.
“I hail from London,” Barry told his 100 Club fans, “In fact I was conceived under that grand piano.”
Barry studied drums with Cie Frazier, appeared in sessions with Barney Bigard, and as has frequently been the youngest member in the bands which he has led. He toured Europe with New Orleans giants of jazz including George Lewis, Albert Nicholas, Louis Nelson, Captain John Handy and Percy Humphrey. During an interlude in Los Angeles in 1972 he founded the Legends of Jazz ensemble, making several worldwide tours and recording extensively.
As a jazz historian Barry has collaborated in reissuing back catalogues and has researched and published books such as “New Orleans Jazz The End of the Beginning” and his latest work, “Walking with Legends: Barry Martyn’s New Orleans Jazz Odyssey”.
I was privileged to present my fine art print of the portrait to Barry at Dew Drop Hall, New Orleans, in April, 2010, along with a print of my portrait of his son Emile on Drums. He asked for both to be passed around the fans remarking, “Take a look at these! Compared with me, Emile is already going grey, and he’s my son!“
Barry has since written to me encouraging me to “keep doing what you are doing”. Thank you, Barry, for being so supportive of my jazz portraits. I was sad to hear you may no longer be touring London and the UK. But in your sons Emile and Ben Martyn and their band “The Fallen Heroes” your UK legacy lives on.
Fine Art Print of the Jazz Portrait of Barry Martyn.
Barry Martyn at the 100 Club
Hail to a Legend of Jazz
And showman supreme
Whose flare and pizzaz
Revived the New Orleans Dream
Jazz&Jazz 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.
THE TRADITIONAL JAZZ MAGAZINE
So much so, that we are pleased to reproduce the article here for our online followers:
By Peter Butler
“The art of life is to know when to seize on accidents and make them milestones.” Chairman Humph. (A gem from Humphrey Lyttelton’s autobiography, “It Just Occurred to Me”).
It all began in my teenage years in Herne Bay on the North Kent coast in the late 1950s and the early 60s. Jazz was the in thing back then. Memories flood back of gigs at The Kings Hall and The Queen Vic in Herne Bay and Rechabite’s Hall in Canterbury. In those days Sammy Rimington’s early hunting grounds were in East Kent at such venues as Man of Kent in Rainham.
But when I moved to Hertfordshire in 1966, life changed course and jazz was consigned to the back burner … until just a few years ago when Roger Pout, my oldest and closest friend from school days, told me “Peter, when you’re next down we’re going to take in some jazz gigs”. And we did – at The Duke of Cumberland in Whitstable when Burt Butler’s Jazz Pilgrims played there and at Thursday night gigs at The George in Shalmsford Street, Canterbury, and now at The Star in Old Wive’s Lees.
The New Milestone
Then back in 2008 Chairman Humph’s “accident” kicked in. Roger and his wife Chris had booked for the Ken Colyer Trust Autumn Jazz Parade in Hemsby, Norfolk, along with other close friends, Derek and Barbara. But at the last minute, due to illness, Derek and Barbara had to drop out and insisted my wife Ginny and I took their places, gratis.
We seized the opportunity and so began Humph’s new milestone in my life. For years I had painted landscapes and seascapes as a hobby. Following the 2008 Autumn Parade I couldn’t resist painting portraits of the jazz musicians at the festival, including Sammy Rimington who topped the bill that year … especially of him in a sax duet with brilliant young star Amy Roberts
New Orleans Bound
Then at the 2009 Autumn Parade I displayed my first collection of jazz portraits. But that wasn’t all. Incredibly my wife won the prize draw for a trip for two on the Southern Sounds tour of New Orleans in April 2010! It was an incredible experience and I gathered material for a whole series of jazz portraits.
Now the die was cast and the “accident” was turning into a phenomenon!
My wife and I felt we had to give something back to jazz, especially as the scene had changed so much since those earlier glory years.
So rather than just sell my jazz portraits, I hit upon a plan to launch a new website to help promote and support traditional jazz, with costs covered by the sale of my portraits, fine art prints and photographs.
So jazz&jazz.com was launched in June, 2011 – not just to feature my jazz art but also as a forum for jazz bands and jazz fans. And above all to support, promote and help revitalise Traditional Jazz.
JazzandJazz.com is dedicated to promoting jazz and more jazz for Jazz Bands, Jazz Musicians and Jazz Fans. The aim is to raise the profile of jazz and to develop a sounding board for jazz by inviting bands, musicians and fans to share news and views about the jazz scene. As more jazz paintings are commissioned and sales of the fine art prints and photographs increase to help cover costs of the site, the aim is to expand the scope and reach of JazzandJazz.com in support of jazz.
Celebrating the successful launch of the 2012 Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle season: Peter (third from left) with Committee Members John Myhill (left), Ron Sheldrake (second left) and John Morgan (right). Chis Pout was too busy with Shuffle fans to be included in the photo!
Helping Promote Traditional Jazz
Now Jazz&Jazz is going from strength to strength and as a result last year I was able help launch and promote a brand new UK jazz festival, Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle, providing advertising and promotional materials. This year Jazz&Jazz is again heavily involved in promoting the 2012 Seaside Shuffle Festival and associated monthly gigs at Court Stairs Manor & Country Club. The first gig held on 25 February with The Gambit Jazzmen was a huge success and Pete Lay congratulated the Seaside Shuffle Committee on their successful launch of the 2012 season. So it’s a huge pleasure to be working with Chris Pout and the rest of the Committee on this, especially as Chris is my jazz chum Roger’s wife.
My wife Ginny is a graphic designer and last year she suggested we look into using my jazz photos to help promote events and festivals. She wanted to produce a Jazz Guide ad for the Hemsby Autumn Jazz Parade for Pete Lay as a thank you for our trip to New Orleans. We have worked with Pete again this year to produced the 2012 Parade ad which includes some of my photographs.
Closer to home Jazz&Jazz is involved in helping promote our local Welwyn Garden City Peartree Monday Jazz Club. Working closely with Brian Smith, aka “Smiffy”, I produce the club’s six monthly programme and monthly flyers and Jazz Guide ads as well as heavily promoting the club on the Jazz&Jazz website.
Getting Involved
So do take a look at www.jazzandjazz.com and if you would like a mention on the site, email me: [email protected]. Above all please get involved and use the Comment boxes at the foot of each item to add your views and opinions. This helps boost jazzandjazz.com – and traditional jazz – in Google rankings. Come to that, since getting so re-involved, I’ve met a number of “lapsed fans” now getting back into jazz like myself. All grist for the mill!
I want to thank Pete Lay for his interest in my jazz portraits and photos and for the support he is giving me with Jazz&Jazz.com. Thanks too go to Trefor Williams, Bob Thomas and Emile Martyn, a fellow artist, for their support and encouragement. Also special thanks to Barry Martyn who wrote to me urging me to “keep doing what you are doing”.
JazzandJazz.com is dedicated to promoting jazz and more jazz for Jazz Bands,
Jazz Musicians and Jazz Fans. The aim is to raise the profile of jazz and to develop
a sounding board for jazz by inviting bands, musicians and fans to share news
and views about the jazz scene. As more jazz paintings are commissioned and
sales of the fine art prints and photographs increase to help cover costs of the site,
the aim is to expand the scope and reach of JazzandJazz.com in support of jazz.
TJ Johnson plays The Crypt, St Martin in the Fields, London
24th November, 2010, was a very special day for me. Not just because it was my birthday (never mind which one!) but also because that day my son Alec and I took in TJJohnson and His Band at The Crypt, St Martin in the Fields, Trafalgar Square, London.
Not just for that reason either but also because that was the day Jazz&Jazz was conceived.
On the journey to London Alec and I discussed a blueprint for the concept. Inspired by TJ’s band that evening, the next day Alec immediately discussed the blueprint with his Tonic Fusion partner, Mike Snow, and very soon Jazz&Jazz was launched.
So now that Jazz&Jazz is well and truly on the jazz map with a mention in the May issue of Just Jazz magazine, I considered it high time to feature “TJ” and His Band with photos I took that night in The Crypt.
After all, his gig added extra inspiration to our ideas for the site. Thank you “TJ”!
(Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)
My good friend, Trefor Williams on bass.
Sky Murphy on trombone and Adrian Cox on Sax.
Roger Myerscough on clarinet
Gentleman Jim on banjo
For good measure, the man himself again.
Jazz Painting of Dr Michael White in Dew Drop Hall, New Orleans
Jazz portrait displaying “the spirit of one of the very best New Orleans clarinetists”, Dr Michael White, following in the footsteps of former giants of traditional jazz at
Mandeville’s legendary Dew Drop Hall.
Five years have passed since I met Dr Michael White during The 2010 French Quarter Festival in New Orleans and across Lake Pontchartrain in Mandeville’s Dew Drop Hall where, along with Gregg Stafford and Barry Martyn, he entranced an audience of ardent fans. In the shadow of jazz greats like Kid Ory, Bunk Johnson, Buddy Petit and Louis Armstrong, Michael White conjures up echoes of the past and, with his hypnotic clarinet numbers, the very best of the spirit and legacy of New Orleans. I count myself hugely privileged to be have been able to gather references for his portrait.
Fine Art Print of Jazz Portrait of Dr Michael White
Visitations
Tunes lyrically toned
Notes evocatively honed
Mandeville Memories
Hauntingly cloned.
I write a poem to accompany each fine art print of my jazz portraits and “Visitations” is evocative of Dr White’s music as well as past memories of Dew Drop Hall.
Jazz&Jazz 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.
Jazz Portrait of New Orleans Trumpeter Greg Stafford
Renowned for his brilliant performances of traditional jazz, blues and old time gospel music, in this jazz painting Greg Stafford conjures up echoes from the past in a hypnotic performance at Mandeville’s legendary Dew Drop Hall across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans. In the shadow of jazz giants like Kid Ory, Bunk Johnson, Buddy Petit and Louis Armstrong, Greg represents the very best of the spirit and legacy of New Orleans. I was hugely privileged to meet him during the 2010 New Orleans French Quarter Festival and to prepare references for this portrait.
Fine Art Print of the Jazz Portrait of Greg Stafford.
He Der Man!
Silk Shirt, snazzy dresser,
Hot trumpet, deft touch,
Sweet notes, gravelly vocals,
Gregg Stafford, “He der Man!”
Blind verse, maybe, but there’s rhythm in the words. I write a poem to accompany each fine art print of my jazz portraits and “He Der Man!” seems to ideally suit Greg Stafford.
Jazz&Jazz 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.
Jazz Portrait of Amy Roberts and Adrian Cox: “Reeds in Duet”
Jazz portrait of Amy Roberts and Adrian Cox keeping the spirit of jazz alive and steeling the show with a stunning duet at the 2010 Autumn Jazz Parade in Hemsby, Norfolk.
Jazz may no longer be at the peak of it’s popularity, yet it will forever be for the young at heart. It’s way overdue for a revival and who better to lead the way than rising stars like Amy and Adrian. Tony O’Sullivan introduced them as “the exiting new generation of jazz reed musicians”.
Still in her twenties, Amy hails from Cornwall and has rapidly made her mark on the UK jazz circuit and abroad for her stunning performances on saxophone, clarinet and flute. She regularly guest stars with top bands at clubs and jazz festivals and until recently toured widely with the Big Chris Barber Band. Early in 2015 The Amy Roberts Richard Exall Quintet received the ‘Harry Cameron Trophy’ for ‘Band of The Year 2013/2014’.
A few years longer on the circuit yet barely in his 30s, Adrian wows the fans with his infectious dynamism on saxophone and clarinet. Already 18 years on road and starring with top bands like TJ Johnson, The Fallen Heroes, The Rich Bennet Band and Max Collie’s Rhythm Aces, his maestro performances are popular across the UK and on the Continent. Influenced by greats like Jonny Hodges, Lester Young and Earl Bostic, he is “sure to have you dancing from the first note”. Based in London and the Home Counties, Adrian is a familiar face at top venues with The Adrian Cox Quartet.
Amy and Adrian are the future of jazz. Read more about them under Rising Jazz Stars.
Fine Art Print of the Jazz Portrait of Amy and Adrian
Reeds in Duet
Saxophone and clarinet,
Reeds in duet,
Amy and Adrian,
Trad Jazz’s Jet Set.
I write a poem to accompany each fine art print of my jazz portraits and for Amy and Adrian it just had to be “Reeds in Duet”.
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.
Jazz Painting of Mike Pointon on Trombone
British Star of New Orleans Jazz, trombonist Mike Pointon lets rip with his Lakefront Loungers at the Ken Colyer Trust 2008 Autumn Jazz Parade in Hemsby, Norfolk. Full of enthusiasm, raconteur Mike is a mainstay on the UK Jazz scene, renowned for his sense of humour and individualistic, raffish style.
More in the style of a caricature, I think my jazz portrait captures Mike’s subtle flamboyance. When he first saw the portrait he commented to me along the lines, “That’s wrong! Trombonists shouldn’t puff out their cheeks like that! But I do! I shouldn’t, but you’ve got it right!”
I know he’ll forgive me for mentioning this.
More about Mike can be found under Jazz Bands.
Jazz&Jazz Fine Art Print of Portrait of Mike Pointon
The Trombonist
Lips tightly pursed,
Cheeks fit to burst,
Eyes in a glaze,
Instrument ablaze,
The trombonist takes it away.
I write a poem to accompany each fine art print of my jazz portraits and for Mike I just had to match the words of The Trombonist to the man!
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.
Jazz Portrait of Bob Thomas on Trumpet
I painted this acrylic jazz portrait of Bob Thomas, Lemsford’s very own village “Satchmo”, in support of a campaign to keep jazz live in “The Long Arm & Short Arm”, one of the village’s pubs where Bob’s band, Bob Thomas & The Thomcats, played regularly along
with other bands.
But sadly it was to no avail and, as is so often the case these days, the pub ditched live jazz in favour of canned music and discos.
Fine Art Print of the Jazz Portrait of Bob Thomas of Thomcat Fame.
Bob Thomas of Thomcat Fame
Jazz on the Island,
Jazz in the Inn,
Lemsford’s own Satchmo
On trumpet in full swing.
Fans take the long view,
Dismissive of the short,
Backing the Thomcats
With total support.
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.
Read more about Bob Thomas & The Thomcats and my interview Bob Thomas.
Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz
Jazz Painting of Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band Commissioned by Dave Rance
Dave Rance describes his Bedfordshire based Rance’s Rockin’ Chair 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.
When Dave commissioned the acrylic jazz portrait of the band I decided it simply had to be in the style if a caricature.
Jazz&Jazz Fine Art Print of Jazz Portrait of Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band
Let it Rip, Dave!
Clarinet, drums and bass,
Swinging in rhythmic pace,
Guitar, trombone and banjo,
Laid back in tuneful flow,
With cornet as star of the show,
Rance’s Rockin’ Chair Band
Never sounded more grand.
I write a poem to accompany each fine art print of my jazz portraits and couldn’t resist the words of ‘Let it Rip, Dave!’.
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.
