Dom Pipkin & The Ikos Top the Bill at Mardi Gras Mambo

Dare I announce this event to Traditional Jazz Fans? Yes, indeed I do dare because it follows hard on the heels of my article in the August issue of Just Jazz magazine: “I want to play like that!” Analysing the Jazz Scene – Past, Present and Future”

So over to Dom Pipkin to announce his Mardi Gras Mambo in his own words. And despite the Rhythm n Blues, note his references to Professor Longhair and James Booker.

“Kind grooving folk,

“You may remember a night not long ago, when a warehouse in East London was filled to bursting point with New Orleans sounds of the highest order, where sizzling Rhythm n Blues met funky grooves in a most joyous marriage…well, for those who missed Mardi Gras Mambo in May, we’re doing it all over again on Aug 25th!

“Back at our spiritual home, the New Empowering Church, Westgate Street, London E8 3, we go head to head with Carnival fever for the swampiest after party this side of Bourbon Street.

“Headliners Dom & The Iko’s bring forth storming New Orleans R&B headed up by piano virtuoso Dom Pipkin. Conjuring up the spirit of Professor Longhair and James Booker, this band’s piano-driven grooves drive deep into the heart of this infectious RnB sound. Combining wailing saxophones and savage piano playing this band evoke the honky-tonk bars of notorious old Bourbon Street – one of the most compelling live RnB acts around.

“On support – The Coalminers! Delving deep into the pocket of funk – this band to fully dedicate themselves to the New Orleans Soul and Funk sound in the UK, building up a reputation of delivering their very own authentic Swamp Soul!

“Live and wild on the decks, resident Voodoo Queen DJ Lil’ Koko wields her stash of New Orleans vinyl-expect obscure Rhythm n Bues, funk and swamp infested brass till the wee, wee hours

“Come hungry, leave Soulful

“Jambalaya- Authentic Cajun delicacies to feast and fuel these late night frolics.”

On the Door:
£8 before 10pm
£10 for the late and loaded

But What About the Jazz, you ask?

Be assured, I have heard Dom play the very best of  Trad. It was Tony Rico, his saxophone player, who told me of his love for New Orleans Traditional Jazz. Yet at the time he was writing hip hop music. “I have to mix it, Peter, if I’m to make a living from my music!” Just as Dom himself has to mix it.

As I say in my “Analysing Jazz” article:

“All need not be lost. The potential for a traditional jazz revival is there to be seized upon if only the “oldies”, bands and fans alike, would lift their eyes above their parapets! The key is in emerging younger bands …… making their mark in New Orleans style.

New Orleans Jam Session with The Ikos at The Alleycat

“Take  London based Dom Pipkin & The Ikos. Dom runs regular New Orleans Workshops and Jam Sessions at The Alleycat in Denmark Street and he recently staged a very successful Mardi Gras event in Hackney. Younger musicians who attract younger fans, and yes, I mean young fans! They mix it a bit but trad jazz predominates. Dom recently appeared on Later with Jools [and more recently on Andrew Lloyd Weber’s Superstar] as piano accompanist to up and coming songstress Pamola Faith. That way he makes decent money to help support his passion for real jazz.

“At present these younger bands are following their own “routes to market”. Somehow there has to be a meeting of minds. A coming together of older and younger generation bands. Only then will “what goes around come around” as the older bands interact with younger bands to reinvigorate traditional jazz until it flourishes again.”

Brian Smith and I spent an evening with The Ikos at The Alleycat back in May. Brian (aka “Smiffy) runs The Peartree Jazz Club in Welwyn Garden City, and at the end of a great session he said: “I’d book them! Of course I’d ask them to concentrate more on Traditional Jazz even if they mixed it a bit and I’d tell our fans they’d be in for a treat!”

So if you are in the vicinity, why not get down to the Mardi Gras Mambo at the New Empowering Church on 25th August?

 

Get Down to Torfaen Jazz Club for a Weekend of Old Style Jazz!

Derek Nash stars Saturday, 11th August

TORFAEN JAZZ

Brecon Fringe Festival 2012


NORTHCOTE CONSERVATIVE CLUB

11th/12th August


Book on line:
http://www.torfaenjazz.org.uk

Saturday

Noon to 1.15pm
Bryn Davies/Lawrence Mansell Quintet

1.45-3pm
The Good Ol’ Spit & Dribble Jass Band

3.30-4.45pm

Hot Club Gallois

5.15-6.30pm
The Memphis 7

7-8.15pm
Henry’s Bootblacks

9-11pm
From Jools Holland’s Rhythm & Blues Orchestra
Derek Nash with Paul Jones, Richard Jones, Alun Vaughan & Tom Cottle


Sunday

Noon-1.15pm
Dave Price Quintet with Lee Goodall & Ben Thomas

1.45-3pm
Ian Poole Trio Feat with Glen Manby & Andrew Fawcett

3.30-4.45pm
Coltrane Dedication

5.15-6.30pm
Dominic Norcross Quartet + Dick Hamer

7-8.15pm
Zoe Francis + Jim Barber trio

8.30pm-close
Jazzberry Jam invitation session with Andrew Fawcett & Steve Doolan hosting the session.

Tickets £10 per day. Derek Nash £5 for day ticket holders or £10

50p admin fee for online booking, click  link at top of the page, just bring email confirmation & pick up on the day.

Or phone 01495 740953

Leroy Jones, “The Keeper of the Flame”

‘Legendary jazz trumpeter Leroy Jones is known to music lovers as the “Keeper of the Flame” for traditional New Orleans jazz and to critics as one of the top musicians ever produced by the Crescent City.’ (Spirit of New Orleans Productions)
Leroy is also featured on the Preservation Hall Jazz Band site.

I got to meet the “Keeper of the Flame” at Donna’s Bar and Grill on Rampart Street, New Orleans, in April, 2010, before its temporary closure. I asked him if I could take a series of photos of the band and upon showing him some samples of my jazz portraits, he graciously agreed, though I doubt he remembers me amongst his throng of fans.

And I’ve still to complete his jazz portrait!

So I thought it high time I featured Leroy on Jazz&Jazz along with the photos I took at Donna’s Bar and another which I took of him in a trumpet duet with legendary music man and song writer supreme, Dave Bartholomew, at Nina’s Palm Court Jazz Cafe on Decatur Street.

KatjaToivola on trombone with Leroy at Donna’s Bar

Never to be forgotten: Leroy Jones and Dave Bartholomew note for note at The Palm Court Jazz Cafe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ll get to that portrait of Leroy, promise!
Meanwhile, take a look at my acrylic portrait of Dave Bartholomew.
Donna’s Bar & Grill back in business!
Not to be missed when in New Orleans: The Palm Court Jazz Cafe on Decatur Street.

Peter M Butler
Editor & Proprietor Jazz&Jazz

(Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

 

 

Jazz&Jazz Features Greg Stafford, New Orleans Superstar

Gregg entrances Ken Colyer Trust fans at NO's Intercontinental Hotel

Where are today’s King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, or Bunk Johnson? … “Greg Stafford? Yes, he der man! “

In the eyes of many, Greg Stafford can rightly claim the mantle of Satchmo as today’s New Orleans’ supreme traditional jazz trumpeter. And two years ago during a visit to New Orleans, not only was I privileged to revel in his exhilarating style at two separate performances but also to meet him in person and subsequently to paint his portrait.

So it’s high time I featured Greg on Jazz&Jazz and displayed the photos I took of him at New Orleans’ Continental Hotel and at Mandeville’s historic Dew Drop Hall – along with this link to a fascinating account of his life in jazz: http://goo.gl/RYYUD

The Intercontinental Quartet with Greg on the left and Dr Michael White, second left.

In the footsteps of Satchmo at Dew Drop Hall.

Barry Martyn's band gives a select performance for the final Ken Colyer Trust New Orleans' Tour.

 

 

To view my Jazz&Jazz acrylic portrait of Greg Stafford, hit: https://www.jazzandjazz.com/?p=1914

(Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz)

 

 

‘Uncle’ Lionel Batiste, Drummer for the Treme Brass Band, Dies at 81

I have such wonderful memories of “Uncle” Lionel welcoming my wife and me to Tremé’s Candlelight Lounge in April, 2010 (https://www.jazzandjazz.com/?p=61). It saddened me immensely to learn of his passing and I simply had to reproduce here The Hollywood Reporter’s tribute to such a huge personality wrapped up in such a modest and diminutive frame. (Peter Butler, Jazz&Jazz).

The musician, who had been a fixture on the New Orleans jazz scene since the 1940s, died Sunday morning after a brief battle with cancer.

“Uncle” Lionel Batiste, the longtime bass drummer for Treme Brass Band, and a fixture for 70 years in the New Orleans jazz scene, died Sunday morning after battling cancer for only a few months. He was 81.

Batiste was an icon for many local musicians, and with his signature sunglasses, wristwatch worn on his hand as opposed to his wrist, and an omnipresent kazoo, he moved to the beat of his own bass drum.

Batiste was diagnosed with cancer in April,according to New Orleans newspaper The Times-Picayune.

While Batiste rose to fame slowly with the Treme Brass Band, he appeared in numerous commercials and television shows, including Treme on HBO. He was a central figure in Spike Lee‘s Hurricane Katrina documentary, and he was frequently featured as the face of New Orleans for the city’s Jazz and Heritage Festival. According to Treme clarinetistMichael White, Batiste used his drum to stay afloat in the floods after Hurricane Katrina.

While he was known as a bass drummer and began playing the instrument as a child, Batiste occasionally sang for the band, demonstrating a smooth, soft voice. But more often, Batiste danced. While he was a shoeshiner in the French Quarter as a boy, in his younger years he was brought on stage next to Pork Chop and Kidney Stew to show off his tap-dancing skills. He developed his signature slide and hop dance from studying an older drummer, Papa Knox.

After several months in the hospital this spring, Batiste was released June 26, still ill, and attended the Treme Brass Band’s gig that night at d.b.a. According to Nola.com, the club’s owner cordoned off a corner for Batiste to sit in his wheelchair, surrounded by much of his 13 children and numerous grandchildren.

“He was in a wheelchair, very frail, half the size he was before,” Tom Thayer, the club’s owner, toldThe Times-Picayune. “But he seemed to have a great time. He hung out most of the night. He smiled and posed for pictures, and after the first set, he signed every single CD everyone bought. There was a good energy there.”

Mr. Batiste stayed for both sets, “and when they wheeled him out,” Thayer said, “the whole place applauded when he left for the last time.”

A portion of sales of the “Treme 2012” poster, which is a photograph of Batiste, will be donated by the group to help with Batiste’s medical and funeral costs, according to Toni Rice of the Multicultural Tourism Network.

Courtesy of  Jane Kellogg, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 July, 2012

 

Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle Brightens up the Summer Blues

The 2012 Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle Festival featured a weekend of joyous traditional jazz helping lift the blues of our gloomy summer. There might not have been blue skies up above but there was rhythm and musical blues galore to lift the fans’ spirits.

So what better way to share the festival spirit than with a selection of photos of the bands and musicians who helped sweep away our cares.


(Bookmark this page for advance announcements of 
Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle 2013)

Friday, 6th July

Vocalion Jazz Band at Court Stairs

 

Ever popular with fans in Kent, Vocalion Jazz Band hail from Medway.
Left to Right: Ivan Gandon, Dennis Jenkins, Kenny Sanderson, Sam Weller (ldr) and Mark Alexander.

Kenny Sanderson on Banjo and Mark Alexander on Drums

 

Ivan raises the roof on vocals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Festival fans on form.

The band with Gerry Birch on Sousaphone.

 

Saturday 7th July

John Myhill’s Seaside Shufflers at

The Belgian Cafe

 

L to R: Jonathan Pick on Drums; John Myhill on Guitar; Nick Capocci on Keyboard; Harry Cook on Bass.

Keyboard, Guitar and Bass.

A Rising Star: Sixteen year old Jonathan on drums.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seaside Shuffle fans were made very welcome at The Belgian Cafe.

 

Bill Barnacle Jazz Band
At The Small Boat Owners’ Hall


The Band: Séan Maple, trombone; Trefor Williams, bass; Mike Marsh, drums; Bill Barnacle, ldr, cornet; Pete Rose, clarinet; David Barnet, keyboard.

Séan on trombone and Trefor on bass

 

Bill Barnacle on cornet.

 

Mike Marsh on drums; Bill on cornet; Pete Rose on clarinet and David Barnet on keyboard.

 

Trefor Williams’ Select Six
At The Small Boat Owners’ Hall
for “A Night in New Orleans”

 

The Band: Trefor Williams, bass; John Howlet, trombone; Jimmy Tagsford, drums; Peter Leonard, trumpet; Andy Maynard, banjo; Ian Turner, clarinet.

Presenting Trefor Williams, MC for your "Night in New Orleans"!

Stretching to the limit! John on trombone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Andy on banjo. In full view!

 

 

 

Ian on clarinet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jimmy on drums. Also in full view for "Burgundy Street Blues".

 

 

 

Peter Leonard reached the high notes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday 8th July
Burt Butler’s Jazz Pilgrims
on Harbour Parade, Ramsgate Sea Front


Sadly due to the inclement weather the Brolly Parade had to be cancelled but the Jazz Pilgrims made up for that.

Burt Butler's Jazz Pilgrims brighten up the morning gloom!

Loyal fans put on their own brolly parade!

Star of the show! Betty Renz, jazz singer with style!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Band for Sale! Pavilion thrown in!

 

Sunday 8th July
The Jazz Advocates at Court Stairs


The Jazz Advocates

Bass and vocals

Intense on banjo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brass ensemble.

Superlative saxophony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Drummer at the helm!

 

 

 

 

The Jazz Advocates play regularly at The Bull Hotel, Wrotham, Kent. Telephone: 01732 789800 Email: [email protected]

 

 

 

 

 

 GRAND FINALÉ

COLIN KINGWELL’S JAZZ BANDITS 

Starring Colin Kingwell, leader, trombone; Peter Brooks, bass; Malc Murphy,  drums; Ron Rumbol, clarinet, sax; Dave Fawcett, banjo; Brian Bates, cornet.

L to R: Colin Kingwell, leader, trombone; Peter Brooks, bass; Malc Murphy, drums; Ron Rumbol, clarinet, sax; Dave Fawcett, banjo; Brian Bates, cornet.

Malc Murphy, drums

The maestro, Colin Kingwell.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peter Brooks, bass

Brian Bates, cornet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ron Rumbol, clarinet & sax

Dave Fawcett, banjo

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brian and Colin

Special friends! A quartet of young Swedish jazz fans. They won three raffle prizes but they purchased two Seaside Shuffle T-Shirts so they were made very welcome!

A grand farewell to Ramsgate Seaside Shuffle 2012 from the fans. See you next year!

Photos © Peter M Butler, Jazz&Jazz. All rights reserved.

Email: [email protected]

Don’t Miss Christine’s Stackyard Stompers at The Peartree!

Remembering Tommy Burton

 

Jackie Burton Runs in Memory of  Tommy Burton in the Great North Run for the Stroke Association

Hello Everyone

I have been lucky enough (I think) to earn a ballot place in this years Great North Run… only the biggest half marathon in the world!  I have chosen to raise money for the Stroke Association and run in memory of Tommy Burton. Dad had devoted his life to entertaining people worldwide for over 50 years before being affected by a stroke which took away the 50 years of songs, tunes and jokes, and I know people have a lot of fond memories of him.

I will be joined by another 49,999 others on Sunday, 16 September 2012, and will run 13.1 miles (believe me, it’s a long long way!) from Newcastle to South Shields.  As a relative beginner, I joined a club last November running 3 miles.  I completed my first half marathon in March of this year in 2 hours, 12 minutes and 37 seconds.  There is now TEN weeks to go and I am, once again, in training!

I am looking forward to this prestigious event so, in memory of Tommy, please make this run worthwhile and please give to my cause.  You can do this on my Just Giving page at:

http://www.justgiving.com/JazzyJac

or write out a cheque payable to ‘The Stroke Association’, write your full address on the back if you wish to ‘gift aid’ and pop it in the post to:

JazzyJac
15 Jedburgh Avenue
Perton
Wolverhampton
WV6 7XR
 

And so, one more time…

I Wanna Be Like You… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KX1kgQSNSUE
Thank you so much everyone for your kind generosity!

Jazzy Jac


YouTube
YouTube
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Share